Day Five Evaluation - Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships

By Dr. C. Ajithkumar, International Athletics Coach

Cherotich takes a leap of faith in the steeplechase

Faith Cherotich produced the performance of her career to win the women's 3000m steeplechase in a championship record 8:51.59.

  • Tactically, she showed maturity well beyond her age - conserving energy behind Yavi before launching a decisive kick over the last 250m.
  • Technically, her clearance of the final water jump with speed and efficiency was the turning point.
  • Biomechanical note: Her upright sprint posture in the final 100m maximized stride frequency after barrier fatigue - a hallmark of a true champion.

Nader's tactical surprise in the men's 1500m

Portugal's Isaac Nader executed perfect race judgment to secure gold in 3:34.10.

  • With Kerr injured and Wightman pushing early, Nader's decision to stay patient was decisive.
  • His finishing sprint displayed excellent anaerobic capacity, cutting through the field in the last 80m.
  • This is a breakthrough that positions him as a new European force in middle-distance running.

Moon's technical excellence in pole vault

USA's Katie Moon defended her title with a season's best 4.90m clearance.

  • Her third-attempt success at 4.90m reflects psychological resilience under pressure.
  • From a coaching perspective, her pole carry, plant timing, and explosive take-off mechanics remain among the most efficient in the world.
  • Morris once again took silver, showing the consistency but also the fine margins at the elite level.

Furlani's golden flight in long jump

Italy's Mattia Furlani confirmed his prodigious talent, soaring 8.39m to secure his first outdoor world crown.

  • His approach run rhythm was smooth and controlled, generating maximal horizontal velocity.
  • The take-off displayed ideal penultimate step mechanics, allowing a powerful vertical lift without losing speed.
  • At only 20, his coordination of speed, strength, and aerial control is already at a historic level.
  • This gold, added to his world indoor title, marks the beginning of a new era for men's long jump.

Coaching Takeaway

Day five highlighted two critical lessons for athletes:

  1. Patience in tactical racing (Nader, Cherotich) - knowing when to strike.
  2. Technical precision under pressure (Moon, Furlani) - winning margins at the world stage depend on mastery of biomechanics, not just raw power.