• Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Partner
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Partner
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Partner
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Media Partner
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Supplier
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Supplier
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Supplier

Previews20 Jul 2022


Three things for day 6: Allman in the discus, a wide open steeplechase and 800m opening round action

FacebookTwitterEmail

Valarie Allman at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 (© Getty Images)

Day six of Eugene 2022 begins with another good sleep-in opportunity – just an evening session with only two gold medals to be decided. But for those for whom the build-up is as interesting as the ending, there’s abundant first-round and semi-final action. Last chance to assess the contenders’ form and amend your medal tips. 


Full daily highlights at a glance


Can anyone challenge Allman?


It seems only yesterday that Sandra Perkovic ruled the women’s discus throw. Champion of just about everything, defeats as big a story as her many victories.

Suddenly, the momentum is running the way of Valarie Allman. Olympic champion in Tokyo, a best of 71.46m, an imposing run of victories with throws in the high-60 metre range. Can anyone stop her becoming world champion in Eugene?

Well, don’t write Perkovic off just yet. She has a victory over Allman this year – at Oslo’s Bislett Games Wanda Diamond League, no less – and is churning out big throws with regularity. Regaining the upper hand will prove difficult, to be sure, but it’s not unimaginable for an athlete like Perkovic. It’s just that there is a sense that we have seen the best of Perkovic and other contemporaries such as Yaime Perez and are moving into the era of Allman.

There’s a third thrower in the final with a lifetime PB beyond 70 metres. Jorinde van Klinken of the Netherlands threw 70.22 last year. She hasn’t approached that again so far in 2022, but at 22 she clearly can figure in the event in the coming years.

But it’s difficult to see the Allman era coming to an end at Hayward Field on day six.

Can everyone win the steeple?


No. Obviously there can only be one winner on the day, but you can easily make a case for a large number of the 15 women in the final as world champion.

Winfred Yavi and Nora Jeruto are the only two under nine minutes this season. There’s two obvious possibilities. Emma Coburn, Courtney Frerichs and Courtney Wayment will get massive home support from the crowd at Hayward Field. There’s three more. Peruth Jemutai won the Olympic gold medal last year in Tokyo in a similarly wide open race. Mekides Abebe and Werkuha Getachew will obviously be in contention for a long way, too.

You get the picture. Fifteen finalists, no obvious stand-outs (on 2022 form, anyway), few you would declare who cannot win. It seems there will be six or more in contention at the bell and three or more at the last water jump.

Should be a barnstormer of a race.

Men’s 800 another open affair


The men’s 800m kicks off with first-round heats. It’s another event in which there is no obvious winner and a host of chances.

Olympic champion Emmanuel Korir appears to be coming into top form, but it’s another Emmanuel, his 17-year-old teammate Wanyoni, who is attracting great interest too. With Wyclife Kinyamal Kisasy, and Noah Kibet, the Doha Diamond League winner, Kenya fields a strong quartet.

Max Burgin heads the 2022 list from Kinyamal and Marco Arop. They are three of the six to have broken 1:44 this year, which has not been a stellar season for 800 it must be admitted.

Peter Bol, fourth in Tokyo last year, has been one of the more consistent performers. US trio Donavan Brazier, Bryce Hoppel and Jonah Koech will get plenty of support.

The first round – first three in each of six heats and next six fastest – will be relatively straightforward. Look for the next day’s semi-finals to clarify the form lines.

One thing can be guaranteed – it won’t be boring: 800m running never is.

Len Johnson for World Athletics

Pages related to this article
Competitions