by Deji Ogeyingbo
Assefa, Allman, Davis-Woodhall, and Aregawi Headline Day Two finals in Tokyo
Day two of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo promises a full slate of action. From the streets of the marathon to the field events and track finals, the athletes on display will bring stories, history, and the kind of performances fans live for.
In the women’s marathon, Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa is the favorite. She has proven herself on the world stage, winning Berlin twice and London earlier this year in 2:15:50. She held the world record for a brief period in 2023 after running 2:11:53 in Berlin. Assefa narrowly missed gold at the Olympics last summer in a shoulder-to-shoulder finish with Sifan Hassan, and she arrives in Tokyo determined to make no mistakes. Her main challenger will be compatriot Sutume Asefa Kebede, who has won the Tokyo Marathon twice and holds the Japanese all-comers record at 2:15:55. Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir, Olympic gold medalist and winner of multiple major marathons, also has the experience to compete for the podium. Tigist Ketema rounds out a strong Ethiopian team.
Prediction: Tigist Assefa will claim gold, Kebede second, and Jepchirchir third.
The women’s discus will see Olympic champion Valarie Allman continue her unbeaten streak over the past two years. She posted 66.07m in qualifying, the strongest of the group. Laulauga Tausaga, defending her world title from Budapest, and Sandra Elkasevic, 35, seeking her sixth medal, also advanced.
Prediction: Allman takes gold, Tausaga silver, Elkasevic bronze.
The women’s long jump promises its own drama. Olympic champion Tara Davis-Woodhall led qualifying with a 6.88m leap. She will be joined in the final by Hilary Kpatcha, Marthe Koala, and other top qualifiers.
Prediction: Davis-Woodhall wins gold, Kpatcha silver, Koala bronze.
On the track, the men’s 10,000m will see a new world champion crowned in the absence of three-time titleholder Joshua Cheptegei. Ethiopia arrives with three of the world’s fastest runners this year: Biniam Ghebremichael, Berihu Aregawi, and Selemon Barega. All three finished in the top three at the Prefontaine Classic earlier this season, crossing the line within 1.5 seconds of one another. Aregawi, an Olympic silver medalist with four global silver medals, has the experience and tactical awareness to claim gold. Barega, 2021 Olympic champion and bronze medalist in Budapest, remains a formidable force on the track. Mehary, a versatile 19-year-old with U20 records in 1500m, 3000m, and 10,000m, brings youthful energy and speed to the field. With Cheptegei absent, Aregawi’s consistency and medal history suggest he is likely to seize his first world outdoor gold.
Prediction: Berihu Aregawi takes gold, Selemon Barega silver, Biniam Mehary bronze.
