by Deji Ogeyingbo
Day Six: McLaughlin-Levrone, Paulino, Naser Headline 400m Finals as Kebinatshipi, Peters, and Rojas Chase Glory on in Tokyo
Day six of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo carries the weight of expectation. The schedule features the women’s and men’s 400 meters, the men’s javelin, and the women’s triple jump, four finals that combine speed, strength, and artistry. Together, they form one of the most anticipated evenings of the competition, where familiar champions and emerging contenders will share the stage.
The women’s 400 meters may be the centerpiece. It is rare that an Olympic champion, a world champion, and a double Olympic champion from another event converge in the same final. Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the United States have made it through the rounds with the kind of assurance that suggests the best is still to come. All three rank among the fastest in history, and all three carry different strengths into the final.
Naser owns a 48.14 Personal Best, which is the quickest on the entry list. Paulino is only a fraction slower and thrives on strong closing meters. McLaughlin-Levrone, better known for her dominance in the 400-meter hurdles, made the biggest statement in the semifinal with a smooth 48.29, lowering the American record. That run looked like it came without full effort, a sign that she has more to give when medals are on the line. With three athletes of this caliber sharing the track, the possibility of a sub-48-second clocking has grown real. The prediction leans toward McLaughlin-Levrone, whose fluid stride and control may carry her to a time that pushes the boundaries of the event.
The men’s 400 meters presents a different kind of drama. Instead of three dominant names, there are eight athletes who all look capable of winning. Five of them have broken 44 seconds, three in this season alone. Collen Kebinatshipi of Botswana lit up the semifinal with a national record of 43.61, making him the fastest qualifier. At only 21, he runs with the confidence of youth and the rhythm of a seasoned quarter-miler. Jacory Patterson, the U.S. champion, has built his year on stability and tactical discipline, rarely straying far from the front. Zakithi Nene of South Africa has looked strong throughout the rounds, while Yuki Joseph Nakajima of Japan has given the home crowd a new national record and a home finalist to support. The race will come down to who can manage the opening 300 meters without emptying the tank too soon. Kebinatshipi seems best positioned to carry his form into the final and may be the one to rise above a deep field.
In the javelin, the names themselves tell the story. Neeraj Chopra, the defending champion, returns to face Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, world leader Julian Weber, and Anderson Peters, the Grenadian who has already won two world titles and showed sharp form with an 89.53-meter throw in qualifying. Julius Yego and Keshorn Walcott add more pedigree to a field that features 12 athletes from 11 nations, spanning five continents. It is rare for a final to include so many proven champions alongside the current world leader, and the atmosphere in Tokyo will reflect that. Chopra and Nadeem carry the rivalry that has captured South Asia, but Peters’ form from the qualifying round signals that he is ready to throw beyond 90 meters again. If he does, it will take something special to stop him.
Then there is Yulimar Rojas. The Venezuelan has not competed in the triple jump for two years, yet when she bounded down the runway in qualifying, she delivered 14.49m, enough to remind everyone of her stature. A four-time world champion and the world record holder, she remains the standard by which the event is measured. Her main challengers come from Cuba, with Leyanis Perez Hernandez and Liadagmis Povea both in fine shape after finishing first and second at the World Indoor Championships. Olympic champion Thea LaFond of Dominica is also in the mix, bringing consistency and poise. Yet Rojas thrives in finals, where she builds distance round by round until her competitors are left chasing. She may not be at her absolute peak, but her ability to rise when medals are at stake points to another victory.
Taken together, these four finals will test every dimension of athletics. The women’s 400 meters could produce history, the men’s 400 meters may reward the bold, the javelin will showcase global reach, and the triple jump could extend a dynasty. Predictions lean toward McLaughlin-Levrone, Kebinatshipi, Peters, and Rojas, though each event is packed with athletes capable of reshaping the story. For those watching in Tokyo and beyond, day six promises to be remembered as one of the defining nights of the championships.
