by Larry Eder
Tokyo Day 7 Preview: Lyles, Jackson, and Bol Lead the Charge in Championship Finals
Day 7 of the World Championships in Tokyo promises to deliver a thrilling conclusion in some of track and field’s most anticipated events. On Thursday night, the semifinals provided a glimpse of the intensity and drama to expect as athletes vie for gold in front of a global audience.
In the men’s 200m, Noah Lyles stamped himself as the athlete to beat after a blistering 19.51 world lead run in the semifinals. That performance eclipsed his world lead set at the U.S. Trials and ranks as the fastest semifinal in the history of any major championship. Lyles is chasing a fourth straight world title in this event, a feat few have achieved. He faces a talented field, including Jamaica’s Bryan Levell, who impressed with a 19.78 semifinal win, and Kenny Bednarek, who rebounded from an underwhelming 100m to clock 19.88. Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, who got disqualified in the 100m, will surely look to get a medal. Lyles’ combination of experience, speed, and timing positions him as the favorite, though the margin for error will be minimal. It’s left to be seen who gets the best lane draws, too.
The women’s 200m promises its own drama. Defending champion Shericka Jackson leads the field with a razor-thin edge over USA’s Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, with only a hundredth of a second separating them after the semifinals. Jackson is pursuing a third consecutive world title in the event, a mark that would tie Allyson Felix’s record. Jefferson-Wooden, meanwhile, is aiming to complete a sprint double following her 100m triumph. British athlete Amy Hunt and U.S. runner Anavia Battle also posted identical semifinal times of 22.09s, signaling a highly competitive final. Jackson’s strength and experience, combined with Jefferson-Wooden’s speed and form, set up a captivating showdown that will likely be decided in the final meters.
In the women’s 400-meter hurdles, Dutch star Femke Bol has dominated throughout the season. She arrived in Tokyo having won eight consecutive races, and the semifinals reinforced her status as the athlete to beat. With Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone running the flat 400m, Bol faces fewer rivals capable of matching her stride. Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad, now 35, will seek to upset expectations, while U.S. teammate Anna Cockrell ranks second globally and remains a serious contender. Bol’s fluid hurdling technique and season-long consistency suggest she will maintain her unbeaten run in Tokyo.
The men’s 400-meter hurdles final reunites the big three from recent championships. Norway’s Karsten Warholm, the fastest man this year with a recent 46.28, and Rai Benjamin, whose season-best of 46.54 keeps him in contention, are joined by Brazil’s Alison dos Santos, who appeared slightly off his peak in the semifinals. Warholm’s combination of speed and experience positions him as the favorite, though Benjamin’s competitive drive makes the race compelling. Dos Santos’ challenge will depend on whether he can find the rhythm that earned him Olympic silver in 2021.
The men’s triple jump features a clear frontrunner in Italy’s Andy Diaz Hernandez. The 29-year-old claimed the world indoor title this year with a career-best 17.80 meters and has secured three Diamond League final wins in 2025. He faces stiff competition from Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo, who won Olympic gold at the same stadium, and Jamaica’s Jordan Scott, who has compiled four Diamond League victories this season. Diaz Hernandez’s consistency and ability to peak during major championships suggest he has the edge, though Pichardo and Scott are capable of producing a jump that could change the outcome.
