Day 2 & 3 Highlights from World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025: Dr. C Ajithkumar's Evaluation

The World Championships in Tokyo have already delivered electrifying moments over the first three days, with new stars rising, experienced champions returning to the top, and records being rewritten. Day 2 and Day 3 in particular gave us a fascinating blend of speed, endurance, power, and strategy.

Day Two Highlights

Women's 100m - Jefferson-Wooden Takes Sprint Crown: Melissa Jefferson-Wooden stunned the sprinting world with a championship record of 10.61s, leaving Olympic champion Julien Alfred and Jamaica's Tina Clayton trailing. Her flawless execution and dominance mark her as the new face of women's sprinting.

Men's 100m - Seville Brings Jamaica Back: Oblique Seville stormed to 9.77s, leading a Jamaican 1-2 with Kishane Thompson. With Noah Lyles in bronze, this race signaled Jamaica's return to sprint supremacy post-Bolt.

Women's Marathon - Jepchirchir Shows Her Big-Race Nerves: Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir proved unbeatable once again, outkicking Tigist Assefa in a thrilling finish. Uruguay's Julia Paternain claimed bronze, earning her country's first global medal.

Women's Discus - Allman Completes Her Legacy: Valarie Allman finally secured her first world discus title with a throw of 69.48m, confirming her place among the greats.

Women's Long Jump - Davis-Woodhall on Top: Tara Davis-Woodhall leapt 7.13m to secure her triple crown of Olympic, indoor, and outdoor titles, showing consistency and mental strength against Malaika Mihambo's challenge.

Men's 10,000m - Tactical Brilliance from Gressier: France's Jimmy Gressier shocked the field, outkicking Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha to take gold in 28:55.77. A reminder that in distance racing, strategy can overcome raw speed.

Day Three Highlights

Men's 110m Hurdles - Holloway's Hat-Trick: Grant Holloway stormed to 12.86s for his third consecutive world title, underlining his technical mastery.

Women's 100m Hurdles - Williams Defends in Style: Jamaica's Danielle Williams ran 12.42s to defend her crown, showing why she excels under championship pressure.

Men's 400m Hurdles - Warholm Back on Top: Karsten Warholm produced a 46.42s performance to regain his title, displaying trademark rhythm and aggression.

Women's 1500m - Faith Kipyegon Untouchable: The middle-distance queen clocked 3:53.14, confirming her place among the all-time greats.

Men's Pole Vault - Duplantis Flies Again: Mondo Duplantis soared to 6.05m, thrilling the Tokyo crowd and proving once more why he sets the global standard.

Men's 3000m Steeplechase - El Bakkali's Golden Streak: Soufiane El Bakkali defended his title in 8:04.26, extending his unbeaten championship run.

Coach's Evaluation - Lessons from Day 2 & 3

  • Sprint supremacy is shifting: Jefferson-Wooden and Seville highlight a generational change, with Jamaica and the USA continuing to lead.
  • Championship racing demands more than speed: Gressier's 10,000m and Jepchirchir's marathon showcase the value of patience and timing.
  • Legends dominate: Holloway, Warholm, Kipyegon, Duplantis, and El Bakkali proved experience and precision remain unmatched.
  • Historic breakthroughs inspire: Uruguay's first global medal and Davis-Woodhall's triple crown prove persistence pays off.

Final Thought

The Tokyo 2025 World Championships are shaping up as one of the greatest editions in history. Day 2 brought new champions into the spotlight, while Day 3 reinforced the greatness of established stars. For coaches and athletes, the message is clear: success is built on preparation, patience, and peak performance when it matters most.

-- Dr. C Ajithkumar, International Athletics Coach