Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 (© Getty Images)
In terms of medals, day six marks the half-way point of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25.
Twenty-four titles have already been decided; there are 25 more to go, starting with the four finals on Thursday (18).
Three-way showdown in women’s 400m
The three big contenders advanced safely to the final of the women’s 400m final, setting up a mouth-watering clash between Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino, 2019 world champion Salwa Eid Naser and two-time Olympic 400m hurdles champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
All three are ranked within the top seven on the world all-time list. Naser has the faster PB (48.14), just 0.03 quicker than Paulino’s. But McLaughlin-Levrone impressed most in the semifinals here with a comfortable looking 48.29 to smash the US record.
There’s a chance they could push one another to a sub-48-second run.
Wide open men’s 400m final
While the women’s 400m looks set to be a three-way battle, the men’s 400m is near impossible to predict with any one of the eight finalists all seemingly in with a shout.
Five men in the field have broken 44 seconds, three of them doing so this year. Botswana’s Collen Kebinatshipi impressed in the semifinals with a 43.61 national record. US champion Jacory Patterson has been consistent all year, while South Africa’s Zakithi Nene has also looked good.
The home crowd will be out in force to cheer on Yuki Joseph Nakajima, who set a Japanese record of 44.44 on his way to reaching the final.
Women’s triple jump
Any questions about the form of four-time world champion Yulimar Rojas were soon answered in the qualifying round of the women’s triple jump. The Venezuelan, competing in her first triple jump competition in exactly two years, bounded out to 14.49m for the second-best jump of the round.
The world record-holder will now defend her world title, taking on Cuban duo Leyanis Perez Hernandez and Liadagmis Povea, the 1-2 at this year’s World Indoor Championships, as well as Olympic champion Thea LaFond.
Highly competitive and universal javelin contest
The men’s javelin will be a thrilling showdown between two reigning global champions, three past winners of global titles, and the world leader.
Defending champion Neeraj Chopra will take on Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, world leader and Diamond League champion Julian Weber, two-time world champion Anderson Peters, who led the qualifying round with 89.53m, 2015 world champion Julius Yego and 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott.
In what will be a truly global final, 12 athletes from 11 different nationalities will be represented, covering five continental areas.
A step closer to the finals
On a busy evening of action, there’ll be semifinals of the men’s 800m and both the men’s 200m and women’s 200m.
The women’s high jump qualification round will also take place, as will the heats of the women’s 5000m and the first round of the women’s 800m.
In what has been a highly unpredictable championships so far, expect more surprises on day six.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics
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