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Global gold medallists Noah Lyles, Jordan Anthony and Rai Benjamin were among the winners as the Seiko Golden Grand Prix &ndash; the third World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting of the season &ndash; returned to Tokyo&rsquo;s National Stadium on Sunday (17).
And meeting records fell in the 3000m and women&rsquo;s 400m as athletes made their marks early in the season.
USA&rsquo;s Olympic and multiple world champion Lyles contested his first 100m races of the year, back in the stadium where he claimed world 200m and 4x100m titles in September.
He opened with 10.05 into a 1.1 m/s headwind and improved to 9.95 (0.6m/s) in the final to win the last race on the programme. His 18-year-old compatriot Tate Taylor was second in 10.04 and another 18-year-old, Great Britain's Jake Odey-Jordan, was third in 10.09.
"I&rsquo;m happy with the race, I&rsquo;m happy with the time," said Lyles. "It&rsquo;s a great way to start the season.
"It wasn't my fastest, but it was definitely in my top five fastest season openers, so I'd say it was very worth the journey and I'm excited that I got to have it in a fun place like Tokyo."
His compatriots Anthony and Benjamin also secured sprint wins &ndash; world indoor 60m champion Anthony taking the 200m in 20.05 into a 1.3m/s headwind and world 400m hurdles champion Benjamin winning the 400m flat in 44.69.
Courtney Lindsey got the stronger start in the 200m, but Anthony judged his race well and a powerful finish clinched him a clear win. Lindsey was second in 20.28. The 400m was closer and four athletes were in contention as they reached the home straight. But Benjamin &ndash; in his first race since the World Championships &ndash; looked relaxed, running alongside a battling Muzala Samukonga. The hurdles specialist won by 0.14 ahead of Zambia&rsquo;s Olympic bronze medallist (44.83).
"I think I could have done better execution wise, but it's the first one," said Benjamin. "So, I feel happy to come out with the win and get a good one in front of a good crowd."
Great Britain&rsquo;s world and Olympic relay medallist Yemi Mary John impressed in her first outdoor 400m of the year, becoming a member of the sub-50.00 club as she improved her PB from 50.50 to 49.85 &ndash; a meeting record. USA&rsquo;s Bailey Lear was second in 50.42.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6a096af26540bac82c3edc6d.jpg" alt="Yemi Mary John runs a 400m meeting record at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix" />
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Yemi Mary John runs a 400m meeting record at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Kenichiro Ogane)
"It was always going to be a fast race because I know the Tokyo track is so incredible," said John, who opened her outdoor season two weeks ago at the World Relays in Gaborone. "The Olympics were here and I was fortunate to race here last year at the World Championships. I was hoping for a fast race and just great energy, a great atmosphere."
The meeting record also fell in the women&rsquo;s 3000m as Kenya&rsquo;s Japan-based Janet Jepkoech picked up the pace during the final kilometre to win in a PB of 8:39.24.
Nagiya Mori, Ryuto Igawa and Yu Shibata delighted home fans as they all dipped under the Japanese record and meeting record in the&nbsp;men&rsquo;s 3000m. Mori led the way as he clocked 7:38.98 to beat Suguru Osako&rsquo;s national record of 7:40.09 set in 2014, closely followed by Igawa in 7:39.36 and Shibata in 7:39.51.
There was more home success in the men&rsquo;s 110m hurdles as Tatsuki Abe won in 13.26 (-0.2m/s) ahead of USA&rsquo;s Connor Schulman (13.33). US indoor champion Alia Armstrong won the 100m hurdles in 12.75 (-0.9m/s), narrowly holding off Japanese champion Yumi Tanaka (12.81).
Racing on the track where the world record was set during the Tokyo Olympics, T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s 2022 world U20 champion İsmail Nezir ran a PB of 48.25 to win the 400m hurdles. Japan&rsquo;s Kaito Tsutsue was second in 48.65.
Two-time NACAC Championships medallist Rhema Otabor of The Bahamas denied Japanese champion Momone Ueda a home win in the javelin. Otabor soared into the lead with 61.57m in the fifth round and her rivals couldn&rsquo;t respond, Ueda securing second place with 61.40m and Colombia&rsquo;s 2023 world silver medallist Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado placing third on 60.98m. Japan&rsquo;s Olympic champion Haruka Kitaguchi was fifth in her first competition since last year&rsquo;s World Championships, recording a best of 60.36m.
Czechia&rsquo;s multiple world and Olympic medallist Jakub Vadlejch opened his season with a 85.24m men's javelin win &ndash; his farthest throw since the Paris Olympics.
Japan&rsquo;s Yuki Hashioka leapt 8.22m (1.9m/s) to win the long jump, while his compatriot Sou Shibuya won the high jump on countback with a first-time PB clearance of 2.24m.
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-continental-tour/calendar-results/7233064/result" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Results</a>
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Global gold medallists Noah Lyles, Jordan Anthony and Rai Benjamin were among the winners as the Seiko Golden Grand Prix returned to Tokyo’s National Stadium

Lyles helps to light up Tokyo with 100m win at Seiko Golden Grand Prix

Ivory Coast stormed to a historic gold in the men&rsquo;s 4x100m relay as the intensity at the African Championships in Accra reached new heights&nbsp;on Friday and Saturday (15-16). More medals were decided and several standout performances lit up the University of Ghana Stadium ahead of the final day of competition on Sunday (17).
The Ivory Coast quartet set a national record of 38.52 to claim their first-ever African title in the event. Nigeria secured silver in 38.70, while hosts Ghana delighted the home crowd with bronze in 38.74.
Nigeria maintained their dominance in the women&rsquo;s 4x100m, clinching a fourth consecutive African title in 42.94. Liberia, anchored brilliantly by Thelma Davies, upgraded from bronze in Douala to silver this time with 43.03, while Ghana once again claimed bronze in 44.85.
Ethiopia asserted their strength in the race walks, beginning with the men&rsquo;s 20km event where Misgana Wakuma led from the front to win in 1:18:47, ahead of Kenya&rsquo;s Stephen Ndangiri Kihu (1:20:01) and Wakuma &lsquo;s Ethiopian compatriot Yasin Abduselam Abdulwahab (1:21:07).
The Ethiopian dominance continued in the women&rsquo;s race, as Wubalem Shugut Fonkamo edged Kenya&rsquo;s Silvia Jerono Kemboi in a closely contested finish, 1:33:31 to 1:33:44. Algeria&rsquo;s Souad Azzi took bronze in 1:34:28.
Kenya&rsquo;s Diana Wanza delivered a commanding performance in the women&rsquo;s 10,000m, clocking 31:33.26 to finish more than 10 seconds ahead of Rwanda&rsquo;s Florence Niyonkuru (31:43.73), while Ethiopia&rsquo;s Asefu Abrha Kiros claimed bronze in 31:45.91.
One of the biggest upsets of the championships came in the 110m hurdles, where Niger&rsquo;s national record-holder Saguirou Badamassi stunned defending champion Louis Fran&ccedil;ois Mendy of Senegal to claim victory in 13.73, earning Niger their first medal of the championships. Mendy settled for silver in 13.81, while Egypt&rsquo;s Youssef Badawy Sayed took bronze in 13.82, narrowly edging Botswana&rsquo;s Kemorena Tisang.
Attention then shifted to the sprints, the 200m heats and semifinals setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling final day.
Botswana&rsquo;s Selepe Prince Phaezel emerged as the fastest men&rsquo;s qualifier, winning his semifinal in 20.45 ahead of Senegal&rsquo;s Mouhamed Ba (20.81) and Gabon&rsquo;s Guy Maganga Gorra (20.84). Ivory Coast&rsquo;s 2024 NCAA champion Cheickna Traore impressed with 20.47 to win his semifinal ahead of South Africa&rsquo;s Mihlali Xhotyeni (20.72) and Nigeria&rsquo;s Chidi Okezie (20.97).
Home favourite Joseph Paul Amoah booked his place in Sunday&rsquo;s final by winning the opening semifinal in 20.79, with Botswana&rsquo;s Kevin Lobatlamang also progressing automatically in 20.83.
In the women&rsquo;s 200m, Nigeria&rsquo;s Rosemary Chukwuma responded strongly after missing out in the 100m, cruising to victory in her semifinal and posting the fastest overall qualifying time of 23.24. She finished ahead of The Gambia&rsquo;s Isatou Sey (24.15) and Nigeria&rsquo;s Aishatu Jaffar (24.19).
Ivory Coast&rsquo;s Maboundou Kon&eacute; was close behind, clocking 23.26 in her semifinal. Egypt&rsquo;s Maram Mahmoud Ahmed (23.61), Zambia&rsquo;s Niddy Minglishi (23.74) and South Africa&rsquo;s Joviale Mbisha (23.98) also advanced. The Gambia&rsquo;s Nyimasata Jawneh (23.58) and Liberia&rsquo;s Symone Darius (23.67) completed the list of automatic qualifiers.
Benin&rsquo;s world finalist Odile Ahouanwanou won her third consecutive heptathlon title, earning her nation&rsquo;s first medal of the championships with a total of 5309. South Africa&rsquo;s Enya Pooler (5255) and Cameroon&rsquo;s Adele Mafogang (5227) completed the podium.
South Africa continued to impress in the field events, with Colette Uys upgrading from bronze in Douala to gold in the shot put thanks to her best throw of 17.63m. Cameroon&rsquo;s Carine Mekam Ndo (16.71m) and Kenya&rsquo;s Belinda Adhiambo (16.39m) finished second and third, respectively.
Egypt celebrated a 1-2 finish in the men&rsquo;s hammer throw. Mostafa Elgamel claimed gold with 72.58m, while his teammate Ahmed Tarek Ismail took silver with 68.27m. South Africa&rsquo;s Tshepang Makhethe earned bronze with 67.27m.
Senegal&rsquo;s Amath Faye produced late drama in the men&rsquo;s triple jump, overcoming three fouls before landing a massive PB of 17.00m on his final attempt to secure gold. Mauritius&rsquo; Adel Cupidon took silver with 16.61m, just one centimetre ahead of Benin&rsquo;s Yoan Michel Sourou.
South Africa dominated the pole vault events. Valco Van Wyk won the men&rsquo;s title as the only athlete to surpass 5.00m, clearing 5.40m, while Ansume de Beer claimed the women&rsquo;s crown with 4.30m.
Egypt added another gold in the women&rsquo;s javelin through 18-year-old Aseel Osama Abdel Hamid, whose second-round throw of 60.97m proved unbeatable. Cape Verde&rsquo;s Arianne Duarte Morais claimed silver with 56.43m, while South Africa&rsquo;s Jana van Schalkwyk took bronze with 54.36m.
In the women&rsquo;s high jump, South Africa&rsquo;s Kristi Snyman soared to gold with a clearance of 1.84m, while Ghana&rsquo;s Esther Obenewaa delighted the home fans with silver after clearing 1.81m.
With the 200m and several other marquee events still to come, the stage is set for a dramatic conclusion to the championships in Accra.
Yemi Galadima for World Athletics
&nbsp;

Ivory Coast stormed to a historic gold in the men’s 4x100m relay as the intensity at the African Championships in Accra reached new heights

Relay breakthroughs and surprise performances at African Championships in Accra

There were excellent wins for Alegna Gonzalez and Perseus Karlstrom at the Grande Pr&eacute;mio Internacional de Rio Maior em Marcha &ndash; a World Athletics Race Walking Tour Gold meeting &ndash; in Rio Maior, Portugal, on Saturday (16).
One was expected; the other came as a surprise. Karlstrom was a tired 12th place in Podebrady just seven days ago. Here, the 2023 world silver medallist improved his second place from 2025, while at the same time taking the prestigious scalp of Hayato Katsuki.
The Japanese, who claimed world 35km bronze in Tokyo and won the marathon at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Bras&iacute;lia last month, sits eighth on the world all-time list, and clearly brimming confidence, Katsuki made a bid for home at 16km.
It looked as if the race was done, but somehow Karlstrom dug deep to slowly get back in touch and then pass Katsuki. The Japanese desperately attempted to regain the lead only to fall foul of the DQ board and sit out a time penalty with barely a lap to go.
Arms aloft, Karlstrom strode through the finish line in 1:25:27, with time to spare on eventual second-place finisher Matheus Correa from Brazil (1:27:06).
Correa recovered from a tough time mid race to come through and pass Mexico&rsquo;s Noel Chama, third in 1:28:16, and one-time leader Jordy Arrobo from Mexico. Eduardo Camarate from Portugal was fourth, 1:31:52 and compatriot Tiago Ramos fifth (1:34:50).
Early on, six athletes went through the first lap in 4:31. But that group soon fell apart with Karlstrom, Katsuki and Arrobo putting daylight between themselves and Chama and Correa.
However, the latter two dragged themselves back into contention six laps later. By 12km, the effort to rejoin the leaders appeared to have taken its toll on Correa, but he too was able to show strength and determination.
Katsuki passed Arrobo, with only Karlstrom able to stay in contention &ndash; albeit 10 metres back. That gap became 20 metres very quickly and timed at four seconds completing 16 laps. That was when Karlstom showed the grit that has made him so popular on the race walk circuit for more than 15 years as a senior athlete.
&ldquo;This was an incredible and very emotional win,&rdquo; Karlstrom posted on Instagram after the race. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m so proud and so happy my body is starting to respond again. Hopefully I&rsquo;ve had my bad period this season now it will be up and up.&rdquo;
In contrast to the men&rsquo;s half marathon, the women&rsquo;s race was done and dusted by 6km. Even so, Gonzalez went solo to record a tremendous 1:32:15 &ndash; the fourth-fastest time recorded to date for the new race walk distance.
The world 20km silver medallist from Mexico looked in control throughout, enhanced by a smooth, quick economical style that has already brought her success on the global stage.
Teammate Karla Serrano had the race of her life to claim second place, setting a PB of 1:35:22, exactly five minutes better than her previous mark.
Antigoni Ntrismpioti made up the podium in 1:36:33. The Greek, who won double gold at the 2022 European Championships and 35km bronze at the 2023 World Championships, celebrated her 42nd birthday in March but stuck to her task even after Gonzalez and Serrano moved ahead.
By lap 10, reached in 44:25, Gonzalez could see her two closest followers going down one side of the course, while she sped down the other.
The race for second place also took a turn in Serrano&rsquo;s favour after 12 laps. Feeling confident, she slowly stretched the elastic back to Ntrismpioti until it snapped just past an hour into the race.
At one stage, there was also the unusual sight of Gonzalez lapping Viviane Lyra. The Brazilian, with multiple South American championship wins and seventh place in the Olympic marathon relay in 2024, was clearly having a bad day.
Not so the winner, who enjoyed a splendid isolation. As it turned out, Mexico boasted four of the first five: Valeria Ortuno was fourth in 1:38:14 and Valeria Flores fifth in 1:40:27.
Paul Warburton for World Athletics

There were excellent wins for Alegna Gonzalez and Perseus Karlstrom at the Grande Prémio Internacional de Rio Maior em Marcha

Meeting Name	Venue		Date
51. Halplus Werfertage	Werferzentrum	GER	16 May 2026
Matseia Spring Championships	GPS	CYP	15 May 2026
65th Chugoku Corporate Athletics Championship	Municipal	JPN	09 May 2026
Dani Palooza Last Chance Meet	Dick	USA	17 May 2026
African Athletics Championships	University	GHA	12 May 2026

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