Event-by-event guide to the action in Tokyo from September 13-21 with key contenders, stats and British hopes
Men’s 100m
Final: Sunday September 14
History maker: Usain Bolt JAM – three golds, one bronze
Defending champion: Noah Lyles USA 9.83
Championship record:
Usain Bolt JAM 9.58, 2009
Olympic champion: Lyles USA 9.79
World leader: Kishane Thompson JAM 9.75
The showpiece sprint looks like being another battle between the USA and Jamaica.
Ones to watch
(outdoor 2025 bests in brackets)
Noah Lyles USA (10.00)
Made a slow start to his 2025 campaign over 100m but is still capable of winning his third consecutive major title at the distance.
Kishane Thompson JAM (9.75)
The Olympic silver medallist won the Jamaican trials in a PB 9.75, backed up by a 9.85 win at the Pre Classic and victory over Lyles in Silesia.
Oblique Seville JAM (9.83)
The serial major finalist has a tendency to peak in the semis but has had impressive wins in London and Lausanne, easily beating Lyles in the latter.
Kenny Bednarek USA (9.79)
Looks much improved, winning the US trials and dominating the Grand Slam Track events.
British challenge:
The 2023 bronze medallist Zharnel Hughes looks sharp, judging by his British title victory. World indoor champion Jeremiah Azu qualified with a mid-August 9.97. Romell Glave also competes.
AW prediction:
1 Thompson JAM 9.75; 2 Lyles USA 9.76; 3 Bednarek USA 9.78. Top Brit: 5 Hughes 9.85
Women’s 100m
Final: Sunday September 14
Championship record: Sha’Carri Richardson USA 10.65
History maker: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce: five golds, one bronze
Defending champion:
Sha’Carri Richardson USA 10.65
Olympic champion: Julien Alfred LCA 10.72
World leader: Melissa Jefferson-Wooden USA 10.65
Can anyone stop America’s emerging force?
Ones to watch
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden USA (10.65)
The Olympic bronze medallist dominated the Grand Slam events but moved up another level at the US Championships to go into the all-time top five.
Julien Alfred LCA (10.75)
Fourth in Budapest, the Olympic champion has been consistent at sub 10.80 this summer.
Sha’Carri Richardson USA (11.05)
The enigmatic defending champion and Olympic silver medallist has not yet looked anywhere close to her form of past years.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce JAM (10.91)
The world’s greatest women’s 100m runner with seven global short sprint titles was third in Budapest but, at 38, looks past her sharpest.
British challenge:
Amy…
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