Josh Kerr reached the men’s 1500m final and moved a step closer to defending the title he won in Budapest two years ago on a fascinating day three of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Kerr – who insists he is perfectly happy being the hunted, rather than the hunter at these World Championships – had cruised through the heats earlier this week and decided to lead his semi-final from the front. He looked in control all the way round although a slightly messy finish saw him fall over the line, but in second place, so comfortably through to Wednesday’s final.
He is one of three Brits who will be in that race after 2022 world champion Jake Wightman also emerged from the first semi-final and Neil Gourley snuck through in sixth spot in the second heat. The likes of Dutch sensation Niels Laros and Kenyan star Timothy Cheruiyot will be the biggest threats to the trio of British hopes after Olympic champion Cole Hocker was controversially disqualified for jostling Germany’s Robert Farken in his semi-final.
On the field, Sweden’s pole vaulting supremo Mondo Duplantis broke the world record for a 14th time as he stands a class apart in the event. Having already wrapped up the gold medal, Duplantis had three attempts to clear 6.30m and with no other events left, every eye in the stadium was on him. He failed his first two events before succeeding on the third time of asking as the bar wobbled but stayed and the crowd erupted for an incredible moment.
This morning’s action saw GB medal hope Molly Caudery withdraw after twisting her ankle in the warm-up ahead of women’s pole vault qualification, while another Brit Emile Cairess pulled out during the men’s marathon contested in searing heat and humidity.
Follow all the action from Tokyo below:
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World Athletics Championships - live updates
- Josh Kerr qualifies from1500m semi-finals on day three of World Athletics Championships in Tokyo
- Mondo Duplantis breaks the pole vault world record for a 14th time by clearing 6.30m
- GB's Molly Caudery pulls out of women's pole vault after twisting ankle in warm-up
- Photo finish in the men's marathon
- Full schedule and results
Mondo Duplantis world record lights up Tokyo to underline Swede’s new status
17:35
,
Paul Eddison
The best show in athletics is also its strangest event courtesy of a Swedish alien from Louisiana.
Mondo Duplantis broke the world record for the 14th time on his way to World Championships pole vault gold in Tokyo, back in the stadium where he claimed his first major title – Olympic gold – at just 21.
There is something captivating about the man from Lafayette, who had every one of the 55,000 people in attendance holding their breath as he stepped up for his third and final attempt at clearing 6m 30cm.
They need not have worried. Just like Usain Bolt, athletics’ greatest superstar who has been in Tokyo this week, Duplantis has a flair for the dramatic.
Team USA statement after Cole Hocker's disqualification
15:44
,
Jamie Braidwood
“We are disappointed by the decision to disqualify Olympic Champion Cole Hocker from the Men’s 1500m Final. We believed we had grounds for an appeal and unfortunately, that appeal was denied.”
Tomorrow's World Athletics Championships schedule
15:42
,
Jamie Braidwood
11:35Men’s 800m - Heats
11:40Women’sTriple Jump - Qualification
12:35Men’s High Jump- Final
12:40Men’s 110m Hurdles - Semi-Final
13:00Men’s Hammer Throw - Final
13:05Women’s 400m - Semi-Final
13:35Men’s 400m - Semi-Final
14:05Women’s 1500m - Final
14:20Men’s 110m Hurdles - Final
Olympic 1500m champion Cole Hocker disqualified from World Athletics Championships
15:22
,
Jamie Braidwood
Cole Hocker has been disqualified from the 1500m final at the World Athletics Championships after the Olympic champion was ruled to have illegally pushed past Germany’s Robert Farken during the semi-finals on Monday.
Team USA will appeal Hocker’s disqualification.
More here:
MONDO DUPLANTIS BREAKS THE WORLD RECORD
14:52
,
Luke Baker
HE’S DONE IT! The greatest pole vaulter of all time is the ultimate showman, he rises to the occasion once again. There’s no other action in Tokyo, every eye in the stadium is on Mondo Duplantis.
Third and final attempt at 6.30m - higher than any pole vaulter has ever cleared and Duplantis flies over it. Perfect technique, arcs the body, the bar wobbles but stays put.
The 14th time he’s broken the pole vault world record. A remarkable, remarkable athlete. Sublime.
Duplantis second attempt at world record
14:48
,
Luke Baker
Second attempt at 6.30m for Mondo Duplantis. It looks good... He’s done it! NO! Oh no! That was so close but his chest clips the bar on the way back down and dislodges it
He had the height - that was agonising. One more attempt - third time lucky?
Olympic champion Cole Hocker DISQUALIFIED from 1500m
14:45
,
Luke Baker
DRAMA in the 1500m! Olympic champion Cole Hocker has been DISQUALIFIED after jostling Germany’s Robert Farken in the home straight.
I don’t know. To me that looks a bit harsh. Hocker is squeezing through a gap and puts an arm in front of Farken to complete the overtake from fifth to fourth. The German goes backwards after that, finishing ninth, but there was minimal contact. Very soft for my money.
So, Farken is put through to the final and Hocker is eliminated. We’ll see but I imagine the American team will counter-appeal the disqualification.
Duplantis going for world record
14:38
,
Luke Baker
Ok, here we go. Can Mondo Duplantis break the world record? The bar is moved to 6.30m. His first attempt...
CLOSE! It looks like his arm knocks the bar off but he wasn’t far away. Two more attempts.
Duplantis wins pole vault final
14:31
,
Luke Baker
Down to two in the men’s pole vault final - the last event left running.
Emmanouil Karalis is fighting hard. The Greek star has the silver medal secured and then fails at 6.10m but ups it to 6.15m after Mondo Duplantis easily clears the former height. Would be a big PB for Karalis AND HE’S SO CLOSE! The bar wobble but falls.
To rub salt in the wound, Duplantis clears 6.15m at his first try, so Karalis is forced to push the bar up to 6.20m. This would be ludicrous. Decent attempt but no dice.
Duplantis is world champion once again. Now, can he clear 6.30m to break his own world record for the 14th time...?
Women's 100m hurdles final - result
14:27
,
Luke Baker
A slow start from Amusan leaves her work to do but Ditaji Kambundji has started well.
The Swiss athlete is charging and she surges across the line in 12.24s! That’s a big PB and a new national record - what a run.
Amusan comes on strong but has to settle for silver as Grace Stark of the USA comes third. Superb moment by Kambundji.
- Ditaji Kambundji (SUI) - 12.24s
- Tobi Amusan (NGR) - 12.29s
- Grace Stark (USA) - 12.34s
- 4. Masai Russell (USA) - 12.44s
- 5. Pia Skrzyszowska (POL) - 12.49s
- 6. Devynne Charlton (BAH) - 12.49s
- 7. Danielle Williams (JAM) - 12.53s
- 8. Nadine Visser (NED) - 12.56s
Women's 100m hurdles final
14:22
,
Luke Baker
We’re ready for the women’s 100m hurdles final - the last track event of the day. Can anyone beat world record holder Tobi Amusan.
Here’s a reminder of the competitors
- Tobi Amusan (NGR) - 12.36s
- Grace Stark (USA) - 12.37s
- Masai Russell (USA) - 12.42s
- Danielle Williams (JAM) - 12.44s
- Ditaji Kambundji (SUI) - 12.44s
- Nadine Visser (NED) - 12.45s
- Devynne Charlton (BAH) - 12.51s
- Pia Skrzyszowska (POL) - 12.53s
Women's hammer - result
14:21
,
Luke Baker
The women’s hammer throw has been going on in the background all afternoon and we now have a result.
Camryn Rogers retains her world title from Budapest two years ago and adds to her Olympic crown from Paris 2024 as she throws 80.51m in the second round and no one can beat it. That was a world-leading distance for the Canadian, in fact.
It’s a Chinese two-three as 22-year-old Jie Zhao takes silver with a personal best distance of 77.60m thrown on her very final attempt. That pushed her 18-year-old teammate Jiale Zhang into bronze, as she threw 77.10m also in the final round.
Camryn Rogers (CAN) - 80.51m
Jie Zhao (CHN) - 77.60m
Jiale Zhang (CHN) - 77.10m
Men's 3000m steeplechase final result - Beamish stuns the world.
14:08
,
Luke Baker
Daniel Michalski of the USA leads at the bell but Girma and others are right on his tail. El Bakkali biding his time.
There goes Girma! Leads over the penultimate dry hurdle and attacks the water jump. But El Bakkali coming on strong - passes him on the water jump and seems to have gold at his mercy.
Girma going backwards now. AND HERE COMES GEORDIE BEAMISH. The New Zealand star kicks down the home straight, leaps over the final hurdle and has El Bakkali in his sights.
Catches up to him, passes him and dips for the line. Gold for New Zealand! What a kick by Beamish! El Bakkali in tears on the floor. Edmund Serem of Kenya takes bronze as Girma finishes sixth.
Geordie Beamish (NZL) - 8:33:88
Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) - 8:33:95
Edmund Serem (KEN) - 8:34:56
Men's 3000m steeplechase final
14:03
,
Luke Baker
The first track medal of the evening will shortly be decided with the men’s 3000m steeplechase underway.
Many expect a straight shootout between double Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco and world record holder Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia.
Duplantis still flawless in pole vault
14:01
,
Luke Baker
Crunch time in the men’s pole vault. Mondo Duplantis goes over 6.00m at the first attempt and he hasn’t had a failure yet. Hard to see who beats him, although Greek star Emmanouil Karalis also goes over that height at the first attempt (although he had two failures at 5.95m before clearing).
Former world record holder Renaud Lavillenie has crashed out at 5.95m, while another Frenchman Thibaut Collet is also gone. The likes of Kurtis Marschall, Sam Kendricks and Menno Vloon are still alive but yet to clear 6.00m.
Neil Gourley: 'My Mum will be having a panic attack'
13:56
,
Luke Baker
It wasn’t pretty but Neil Gourley snuck through to the 1500m final in sixth spot. He spoke to the BBC after his race
“I’m relieved to say the least. I had no clue if my name was coming up in fifth or ninth. I tried to to keep my form and reach the line. I didn’t feel great tonight but it’s great to finish on the right side of it.
“I was happy to be stuck behind Cole [Olympic champion Cole Hocker] and I was surprised he let so many by him. I was content to key off Cole but he was squeezing through space as well, which left me with lots to do in the last 50 metres.
“I was just thinking ‘my Mum is going to kill me after that'! Someone needs to check on her, she'll be having a panic attack up there in the stands. I’ll go and give her a hug now.”
Men's 1500m second semi-final - result
13:51
,
Luke Baker
Here’s the top six from that second semi-final who all reach the 1500m final
- Reynold Cheruyiot (KEN) - 3:36.64
- Cole Hocker (USA) - 3:36.67
- Adrian Ben (ESP) - 3:36.78
- Isaac Nader (POR) - 3:36.86
- Jonah Koech (USA) - 3:36.89
- Neil Gourley (GBR) - 3:36.93
Men's 1500m semi-finals - Gourley sneaks through
13:46
,
Luke Baker
It’s nervy for Gourley down the home straight - there’s a wall of bodies in front of him.
He looks like he’s out of it but, on the inside, lunges for the line and sneaks into sixth - the final qualifying spot. Three Brits in the final!
Ahead of him, the race was won by Reynold Cheruyiot while Olympic champion Hocker pushes one of his opponents to force his way through and comes second. The likes of Adrian Ben and Isaac Nader also through.
Men's 1500m semi-finals - Gourley in action
13:44
,
Luke Baker
Gourley boxed in on the inside as we enter the final lap, he’ll need gaps to open up. Hocker also on the inside.
Men's 1500m semi-finals - Gourley in action
13:43
,
Luke Baker
The second semi-final is now underway. GB’s Neil Gourley and Olympic champion Cole Hocker of the USA in this one.
Like Kerr, Gourley running towards the front.
Kerr and Wightman reflect on qualifying for 1500m final
13:42
,
Luke Baker
Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman have spoken to the BBC after reaching the final
Kerr (after falling across the line: “It’s difficult to know what going on around you. I thought we were clear, which I think we were but there were dramatics in the rain. It’s a world semi, so what do you expect. It’s difficult when you've not seen anyone for 1400m. It wasn't the plan to lead from the front today but the plan was to get through and I did.
Wightman: “I worked a bit too hard at bits I shouldn't have but I felt good in the last 200 metres. It felt like people were pushing for no reason but both through, that's main thing.”£
Men's 1500m semi-finals - result
13:39
,
Luke Baker
A little hairy at the end but job done for the two Brits in that semi-final in the end. Here’s the result from that first semi-final - with the six qualifiers.
- Niels Laros (NED) - 3:35.50
- Josh Kerr (GBR) - 3:35.53
- Jake Wightman (GBR) - 3:35.56
- Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN) - 3:35.61
- Andrew Coscoran (IRL) - 3:35.65
- Samuel Pihlstrom (SWE) - 3:35.71
Men's 1500m semi-finals - Kerr and Wightman qualify
13:35
,
Luke Baker
Kerr looks comfortable and is still at the front with Laros and Cheruiyot on his shoulder.
It starts to get tight as they burn up down the home straight. Kerr boxed in on the inside and there’s a clash of legs, so he stumbles as he crosses the line but he’s in second spot and safely through.
Wightman also through in third, it was Laros who crossed the line first. Cheruiyot also in as is Ireland’s Coscoran
Men's 1500m semi-finals - Kerr and Wightman
13:33
,
Luke Baker
A comfortable pace, positively pedestrian pace here and we’ve reached the bell with Kerr still leading but Wightman starts to make a move. Four abreast at the front, including Laros
Men's 1500m semi-finals - Kerr and Wightman
13:32
,
Luke Baker
Kerr still leading as they pass the 800m mark - he’s happy to set the pace today. Loping along calmly.
Cheruiyot of Kenya moves alongside Kerr with Arese and Pihlstrom also paying attention. The pace starts to pick up...
Men's 1500m semi-finals - Kerr and Wightman
13:31
,
Luke Baker
Kerr takes up the running at the front alongside Coscoran of Ireland. His big, mirrored shades masking his eyes.
Pihlstrom of Sweden then joins them at the front but the whole field are still in one big group.
Men's 1500m semi-finals - Kerr and Wightman in action
13:30
,
Luke Baker
Here we go! It’s men’s 1500m semi-final time. Josh Kerr, Jake Wightman and Neil Gourley all in action for GB.
Kerr and Wightman are the last two world champions and they both go in this first semi-final. The first six go through.
Duplantis clears 5.95m
13:28
,
Luke Baker
We’re starting to reach crunch time in the men’s pole vault. Eight men still involved.
Mondo Duplantis is looking sublime - he becomes the first man to clear 5.95m, doing so at his first attempt. A marker laid down for everyone else. And Emmanouil Karalis, Kurtis Marschall and Sam Kendricks all fail their first shot at the height.
Women's 100m hurdles semi-finals
13:24
,
Luke Baker
The third semi-final sees American Masai Russell, the Olympic champion, just pip Danielle Williams of Jamaica on the line but both will go through.
Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas is pushed out to third but she’ll go through as a fastest loser, knocking out Ackera Nugent, who had had a fantastic season.
Here are the eight women who will contest the final a little later today - at 2.20pm BST in fact:
- Tobi Amusan (NGR) - 12.36s
- Grace Stark (USA) - 12.37s
- Masai Russell (USA) - 12.42s
- Danielle Williams (JAM) - 12.44s
- Ditaji Kambundji (SUI) - 12.44s
- Nadine Visser (NED) - 12.45s
- Devynne Charlton (BAH) - 12.51s
- Pia Skrzyszowska (POL) - 12.53s
Women's 100m hurdles semi-finals
13:16
,
Luke Baker
Things are heating up in Tokyo. The women’s 100m hurdles semi-finals are getting underway, with places in the final later this evening up for grabs. Top two in each of the three semis, plus two fastest losers, will qualify.
Lotta Harala of Finland DQed for a false start in heat one before Grace Stark of the US and Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji finish in the top two. Ireland’s Sarah Lavin in fourth.
The second semi-final sees 2022 world champion Tobi Amusan of Nigeria impressively win in 12.36s, ahead of Dutchwoman Nadine Visser who also goes through.
The unexpected advantage behind Josh Kerr’s quest to retain 1500m world title
13:12
,
Luke Baker
We’re a little under 20 minutes away from the men’s 1500m semi-finals getting underway and defending champion Josh Kerr will be going for GB.
I spoke to Kerr ahead of the Worlds and he was typically engaging and charismatic in his responses.
Heavy is the head that wears the crown. That’s what the old saying dictates but no one appears to have told Kerr, who is relishing being hunted rather than the hunter.
Men's 110m hurdles heats
13:02
,
Luke Baker
Let’s wrap up the 100m hurdles heats.
A huge roar goes around the stadium as Japanese athlete Shusei Nomoto finishes fourth in heat three and reaches the semi-finals. Must admit, I enjoyed that Nomoto’s pre-race move on the start line was a very respectful wave whereas every one of his opponents had some convoluted finger-gun situation or superhero pose.
Spain’s Enrique Llopis wins heat four ahead of 22-year-old Zhuoyi Xu of China before another massive cheer in Tokyo for heat five with genuine home medal contender Rachid Muratake in action.
Muratake takes second spot in 13.22s behind Jamaica’s Tyler Mason. Three-time world champion Grant Holloway, who has battled injury this season, flies out of the blocks but fades in the second half of the race and only finishes fourth. He’s through but is chuntering away to himself and won’t be happy with that.
Duplantis on cruise control
12:49
,
Luke Baker
After skipping 5.75m, Mondo Duplantis re-enters the men’s pole vault competition at 5.85m and soars over on his first attempt. You could fit a double-decker bus between him and the bar on that clearance... And he promptly signals his intention to skip 5.90m
Interestingly, two of the big medal contenders in Emmanouil Karalis and Renaud Lavillenie have opted to pass on 5.85m and will re-enter at 5.90m. Meanwhile, the likes of Sam Kendricks, Kurtis Marschall and Thibaut Collet also clear 5.85m at the first attempt
Men's 110m hurdles heats
12:34
,
Luke Baker
More hurdling action now, with the men’s 110m hurdles heats. Similarly to the 400m, it’s top four from each heat plus four fastest losers.
One of four American hopes, Dylan Beard, wins heat one in 13.28s with 19-year-old star Yuanjiang Chen of China also through in second.
The only Brit, Tade Ojora, goes in heat two and it will be an ask for him to get into the top four... Yep, a poor start, hits multiple hurdles and he comes across the line in last - miles back.
The next generation are really showing out here though as 19-year-old world youth champion Ja’Kobe Tharp comfortably qualifies in 13.28s.
Duplantis underway in the pole vault
12:18
,
Luke Baker
One of the sport’s biggest stars, Mondo Duplantis, is underway in the men’s pole vault.
Logic dictates that he’ll win gold and the real battle is whether he can break the world record for the 14th time. We shall see.
The Swede flies over 5.55m at his first attempt to get his competition going and it looks like he’ll pass on the next height of 5.75m before re-entering the competition later
Men's 400m hurdles heats - Chalmers through
12:14
,
Luke Baker
Final heat of the 400m hurdles and the third Brit in this event, Alastair Chalmers, does enough to sneak through to the semis in fourth. Guernsey’s finest joins Tyri Donovan as British representation in the next round.
A nice run by Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel who wins the heat in 48.37s and he might fancy earning himself a medal this week. Caleb Dean of the US also safely through.
Men's 400m hurdles heats
12:05
,
Luke Baker
Heat three is a first appearance for pre-championship favourite Karsten Warholm. It’s not a great run from the Norwegian in truth but he’s measured enough and safely qualifies but crosses the line in third, clocking 48.56s. Holding something back perhaps? Brazil’s Matheus Lima and Ismail Doudai Abakar of Qatar both beat him.
Heat four is the entrance of Rai Benjamin who, along with Warholm and Alison Dos Santos is expected to fill out the podium. Benjamin wins in 48.15s but GB’s Seamus Derbyshire, who has become a TikTok sensation for his pre-race dances on the starting blocks, struggles to a seventh-place finish and he crashes out.
Men's 400m hurdles heats
11:53
,
Luke Baker
Ok, we’ve got some live action in Tokyo, with the evening session kicking off with the men’s 400m hurdles heats. The top four in each of the five heats, plus the four fastest losers, will reach the semi-finals.
Some good news for GB in heat one as 26-year-old Tyri Donovan delivers a PB at the perfect time - running 48.26s and out-dipping three other runners with a Superman-style dive to take second spot. Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba won the heat in 48.03s.
“I tried to be patient down the back straight,” explains Donovan. “I gave it what I’ve got at the end there and I have a knack of falling over the line that works for me! I’m glad I finished strong. This whole experience has been beautiful, to come out here, set a PB and get to the semi-finals on debut is unbelievable for me.”
Heat two follows and one of the medal favourites, Alison Dos Santos of Brazil cruises through in 48.48s but 2023 silver medallist Kyron McMaster finishes fifth and his time of 49.89s won’t be enough to see him through.
Photo finish in the men's marathon
11:37
,
Luke Baker
Ludicrous, ludicrous scenes in the men’s marathon in Tokyo this morning. It was more 100m than 26.2 miles as we had a false start and then a photo finish!
Alphonce Felix Simbu snatched gold in the first photo finish at a major championship marathon, edging out German Amanal Petros in a dramatic race to the line to give Tanzania a maiden world title.
The photo finish showed the 42.195km race was decided by three-hundredths of a second as Simbu surged past the diving Petros at the line, closer than the 0.05s gap between the gold and silver medallists in the men's 100m final on Sunday.
"When we entered the stadium, I was not sure if I would win," the 33-year-old Simbu said. "I did not know if I had won. But when I saw the video screens and me on the top of the results, I felt relieved. I made history today - the first Tanzanian gold medal at a world championships."
Eritrean-born Petros looked set to take the title back to Europe until Simbu found a late kick and ran him down at the line.
"It's like the 100 metres," said Petros. "Coming into the finish I was thinking about winning so a bit of me is feeling very sad. But I have to accept it. As an athlete you have to learn for tomorrow, train hard, keep going and be thankful for the silver."
Day three in pictures
11:27
,
Luke Baker
Here are some iconic shots from this morning’s action in Tokyo
Jamaica’s Oblique Seville powers to world 100m glory in front of Usain Bolt
11:16
,
Luke Baker
Last night, Oblique Seville was crowned the first Jamaican men’s 100m world champion since Usain Bolt after blazing to a personal-best 9.77 seconds in Tokyo.
World record holder Bolt, who last won gold at a World Championships a decade ago, was the guest of honour at the Japan National Stadium and he was treated to a Jamaican one-two after Kishane Thompson claimed silver in 9.82s.
Olympic and defending world champion Noah Lyles collected bronze in a season’s best 9.89s, in a race that required a restart after the Olympic 200m champion, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, was disqualified for a false start.
“Through the years that I’ve been performing, injury is always the thing that stops me,” said Seville, 24, who trains with Bolt’s former coach Glen Mills.
“This year I showed my dominance straight through the season, and I said, ‘OK, this is my year, I’m going to take this one, and no-one is going to take it away from me’.”
Great Britain dealt double blow after medal hope forced to withdraw
11:08
,
Luke Baker
Great Britain were dealt a double blow on the third morning of the World Athletics Championships after medal hopes Molly Caudery and Emile Cairess were forced out of their respective events.
Caudery sustained an ankle injury in the warm-up ahead of pole vault qualifying, while Cairess – who finished fourth in the Paris 2024 Olympic marathon – battled through heat and humidity in the Japanese capital before bowing out in the 38th kilometre as a result of the muggy conditions.
Caudery, the 2024 world indoor champion and ranked fourth heading to Japan, was seeking redemption after a disastrous Olympic debut in Paris, when she crashed out of the qualification session with a no mark.
A British Athletics statement read: “Unfortunately, Molly Caudery has been forced to withdraw from pole vault qualifying following an ankle injury sustained in warm-up.”
It will come as particularly devastating news for the 25-year-old, who vowed to learn from her Olympic mistakes.