. I’ve already have given my Thoughts T on the meets premier events – the men and women’s 100m. Difficult doing Previews with fields being determined so late. Just another issue with the sport – everything is a secret until the final hours! Made more difficult with the US squad being the last one announced, as many potential medalists are expected from Team USA .

We’re now within a few hours of the opening gun, so rather than more event Previews, I’m just going to go through my thoughts on the meet itself, as well as several “highlight” events and individuals. Let’s start with the location, because Tokyo played host to the ’21 Olympics, sort of. I say it that way, because it was a meet in an empty stadium, as due to the political response to Covid, only athletes, coaches, and officials, were allowed in the stadium, or the general vicinity for that matter. A hollow experience for those participating in the event. Many of them are returning and looking forward to the “full” experience of competing in the packed stadium. I’m looking forward to it as well, because this track was engineered for speed, and based on the results produced when it was empty, I think we’re in for some crazy times in several events! Primarily because we’re watching several individuals that appear to either be in, or approaching, the prime of their careers. Beginning with that empty stadium in ’21, this sport has been on fire! With several events seeing their all time performance lists make wholesale changes. Not in just one or two events, but in literally every event in the sport. So in many ways, we’ll be watching the further evolution of the sport over the next couple of weeks.

Some of the hottest athletes we’ll get to watch include, Noah Lyles, the “showman” of track and field. He feeds off of the energy of the crowd, and having this stadium be full will be to his advantage. Same for Tara Davis Woodhall, another athlete who loves to play to the crowd. As does Mondo Duplantis who is looking for both the win, as well as a possible record! Other stars on display include Ryan Crouser and Jakob Ingerbrigtsen, both of whom are making their season’s debuts at the World Championships! Yes, both have been nursing injuries, but to show up at the biggest meet in the world AND be considered the favorite is insane. That takes a deep belief in yourself, which, after all of the hours of training that will be represented in

the Tokyo stadium, perhaps the most important element, is the human one. I say this because most of the internet is comparing “times” and “distances” right now, with the athlete with the best “mark” being given status as the “favorite” in the event. I think we forget that these are human beings, and that much of “competition” lies within people. The mental part of competition is often overlooked. Some athletes “rise up” in big moments, while others “fade”. There’s the physical part of being an athlete, there’s the psychological part of being an athlete, which is why the “best” athlete physically, isn’t always the winner! Something to watch during the next week of competition.

Speaking of things to watch this week. Here are some of the biggest story lines as we begin these World Championships.

The women’s 400m. There are three studs in this event. Two former champions and top four all time competitors in Salwa Eid Naser (48.14) and Marileidy Paulino (48.17). They are joined by 400H record holder, Sydney McLaughlin Levrone, who’s best is 48.74. Add a potential final where every woman should have a best under 50 seconds, and this could be one explosive race. Many are making Sydney the favorite, but I’m sticking with either Naser or Paulino to win.

Then there’s the men’s 100m which features the man everyone seems to love to hate, Noah Lyles. All this man does is win when it matters, but many are putting him off the podium here, in deference to Jamaica’s duo of Kishane Thompson and Oblique Seville, and teammate Kenny Bednarek. None of these men have won anything important globally, though Kishane ran Noah to the line in Paris, losing by a mere .004. Meanwhile Noah has won both a world title and Olympic title in the event – not entering either event with the best time! Pay attention to the rounds of this one.

The men’s 110H is another very interesting race this year, as the reigning Olympic champion and defending World champion, Grant Holloway, has yet to win a race this year! He’ll be facing Cordell Tinch who’s been on a roll and has run 12.87 this year, as well as Rachid Muratake who’s running at home and recently ran 12.92 himself. Let’s throw in Ja’Kobe Tharp who upset Tinch at US Trials, and we have what’s shaping up to be one of the hottest global finals in recent memory!

If we’re talking about hot hurdles races, I just mention the men’s 400H, since we’re returning to the scene of one of history’s greatest ever hurdle races, Tokyo ’21. The setting of the current WR. The breaking of the 46 second barrier. The three medalists in that race. The potential repeat. That’s what we have with Karsten Warholm, Rai Benjamin, and Alison dos Santos all back and healthy! We also have a healthy Abderrahmane Samba who is also a 46 second performer, and a rapidly improving Ezekiel Nathaniel. Tokyo 2.0 is ready to load! 

There are SO many potentially hot races, and I haven’t yet mentioned the women’s 100H’s. The WR holder, Tobi Amusan (12.12). Number two all time, Masai Russell (12.17). Grace Stark (12.21) and Nadine Visser (12.28). These are just the top of the field as a dozen women have run under 12.40 this year. Literally anyone that makes this final is capable of getting a medal – that’s depth! 

Let’s mention Faith Kipyegon, the only woman to run under 3:50 in the 1500m. Keely Hodgkinson who can back from injury to run 1:54.74 in the 800m. Both of these women are overwhelming favorites in the middle distance events. How about one more event, the women’s 100m. Two clear favorites. Melissa Jefferson Wooden (10.65) and defending Olympic champion, Julien Alfred (10.75). Between them they have nine of the top ten times this season. They’ve beaten everyone else. In their one head to head, Melissa won by .03. This is going to be war! 

I can do this all day, and I have yet to mention the field events. So quickly, Mondo Duplantis, Ryan Crouser, Tara Davis Woodhall, Anna Hall, Nicola Olyslagers, Katie Moon, Chase Jackson, Mykolas Alekna,  Julian Weber. Just a few field event stars that will be making news in Tokyo. There is going to be a lot to talk about when this meet is over!