Melissa Jefferson-Wooden wins at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 (© Getty Images)
All six winners on day two at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 earned their first ever individual gold medals at the World Championships, performing in front of an evening crowd of 57,528 spectators.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden stole the show, producing a dominant run to win the women's 100m and breaking the championship record with 10.61.
The Olympic bronze medallist produced a flawless run, powering away from Olympic champion Julien Alfred and Jamaica's Tina Clayton to win by 0.15, the second-biggest winning margin in World Championships history. Her performance also equals the fastest ever time at a global championships, tied with Elaine Thompson-Herah's Olympic record from the Tokyo Games in the same stadium in 2021.
Clayton came through to take silver in a PB of 10.76 while Alfred took bronze in 10.84.
Result: 1 Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA) 10.61 CR, 2 Tina Clayton (JAM) 10.76, 3 Julien Alfred (LCA) 10.84.
Seville delivers on promise with men's 100m title
Jamaica's Oblique Seville ran the race of his life to lead a Jamaican 1-2 in the men's 100m.
Storming away his rivals, he was chased by Kishane Thompson but couldn't be caught – dipping over the line in a PB of 9.77 to earn gold ahead of his compatriot who clocked 9.82.
Defending champion Noah Lyles took bronze in 9.89 and they avoided the challenge of Letsile Tebogo as the Olympic 200m champion was disqualified for a false start.
Result: 1 Oblique Seville (JAM) 9.77 PB, 2 Kishane Thompson (JAM) 9.82, 3 Noah Lyles (USA) 9.89.
Jepchirchir takes another marathon gold on Japanese roads
History repeated itself for Peres Jepchirchir and Tigist Assefa in what was a thrilling finish to the women’s marathon to highlight the morning session.
They were locked in battle for several kilometres in the closing stages and were still inseparable as they entered the stadium. Jepchirchir, who won Olympic gold in her last outing in Japan four years ago, kicked hard with 100 metres to go and strode to victory in 2:24:43. Assefa, who lost out on Olympic gold last year in a sprint finish, once again had to settle for silver in 2:24:45.
But perhaps the biggest surprise came from Julia Paternain, who came through to take bronze in 2:27:23, earning Uruguay’s first ever medal at a senior global championships.
Result: 1 Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) 2:24:43, 2 Tigist Assefa (ETH) 2:24:45, 3 Julia Patternain (URU) 2:27:23
Gold at last for Allman
Valarie Allman, winner of the past two Olympic titles, finally won a long-awaited world title in the women's discus, throwing 69.48m.
The US thrower took an early lead with 67.63m, which was followed by Jorinde van Klinken's 67.50m. They remained the best two marks of the competition until Allman created some distance with her fifth-round throw of 69.48m.
Cuba's Silinda Morales took bronze with 67.25m.
Result: 1 Valarie Allman (USA) 69.48m, 2 Jorinde van Klinken (NED) 67.50m, 3 Silinda Morales (CUB) 67.25m.
Third global gold for Davis-Woodhall
Tara Davis-Woodhall, winner of the Olympic and world indoor titles last year, earned her first outdoor world title by winning the long jump with 7.13m.
The US long jumper led from the outset, opening her account with 7.08m. Two-time world champion Malaika Mihambo improved with each of the four rounds, leaping a best of 6.99m, but Davis-Woodhall responded with a 7.13m winning jump.
Colombia's Natalia Linares claimed a surprise bronze with an equal PB of 6.92m.
Result: 1 Tara Davis-Woodhall (USA) 7.13m, 2 Malaika Mihambo (GER) 6.99m, 3 Natalia Linares (COL) 6.92m.
Gressier takes shock 10,000m title
Jimmy Gressier produced one of the biggest shock wins of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 so far, winning the men's 10,000m in 28:55.77.
In a tactical race where many were reluctant to lead, it came down to a last-lap burn-up with many men still in contention. Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha kicked into the lead with 100 metres to go, but Gressier emerged from the pack in the final stages and caught Kejelcha just before the line to take gold.
Kejelcha held on for silver in 28:55.83 while Sweden's Andreas Almgren claimed bronze in 28:56.02.
Result: 1 Jimmy Gressier (FRA) 28:55.77, 2 Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 28:55.83, 3 Andreas Almgren (SWE) 28:56.02.
In the rounds…
In Sunday morning’s qualifying rounds, the men’s 1500m provided some of the biggest talking points.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen, winner of the Olympic title in this stadium in 2021, made his outdoor season debut after battling injury all year, but the Norwegian didn’t have the fitness to advance to the next round, placing eighth in his heat. World leader Azeddine Habz also didn’t make it through, nor did world U20 record-holder Phanuel Koech, who fell in his heat.
The first round of the men's and women's 400m was particularly swift with 10 men breaking 44.50 and seven women breaking 50.00. US champion Jacory Patterson led the men's qualifiers with 43.90, easing down, while 2019 world champion Salwa Eid Naser was quickest in the women's event, running 49.13.
World and Olympic champion Camryn Rogers led the qualifying in the women’s hammer, throwing 77.52m. The biggest shock of the event came from 2022 world champion Brooke Andersen, who failed to register a valid throw.
Olympic champion Hamish Kerr was one of 13 men to qualify for the high jump final, but defending champion Gianmarco Tamberi and Olympic silver medallist Shelby McEwen missed out.
