IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS NEWS

Doha 2019: Elaine Thompson 2nd in 100m semi-final heat | 9/29/2019 2:21 pm

DOHA, Qatar — Elaine Thompson finished second in the first women's 100m semi-final heat at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar  The 2016 Olympic champion clocked 11:00 seconds and was beaten by Marie-Josée Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast, who finished in 10.58s. Only the first two runners automatically qualify for the finals. More

Doha 2019: Fraser-Pryce cruises to 10.81s win in 100m semis | 9/29/2019 2:43 pm

DOHA, Qatar — Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce got up quickly out the blocks before strolling through the remaining 90 metres to win her 100m heat in 10.81s at the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar. The 2018 Diamond League champion Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast was a distant second in 11.05s. Netherland's Dafne Schippers (11.07s in heat three) and USA's Teahna Daniels (11.10s in heat one) have also qualified for the final as the two fastest losers. More

Doha 2019: Fraser-Pryce wins fourth 100m world title | 9/29/2019 4:23 pm

DOHA, Qatar — Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has won the 100-metre gold at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar. The two-time Olympic champion coasted to a world leading time for the year of 10.71 seconds, claiming her fourth women's 100 metres world title. Britain's Dina Asher-Smith took silver in a national record of 10.83 seconds while 2017 silver medalist Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast took bronze in 10.90 seconds. Jamaican teammates Elaine Thompson and Joniell More

Blake out of sight as Coleman blitzes men's sprint | 9/28/2019 10:40 pm

Doha, Qatar — Jamaica's Yohan Blake finished fifth in the men's 100m final in 9.97 seconds (0.6 mps) as American Christian Coleman confirmed that he is undoubtedly the fastest man on the planet with a scintillating 9.76 seconds inside Khalifa International Stadium here yesterday. Blake, who at the halfway point seemed to be in a medal position, faded badly and was relegated to fifth. Coleman dominated from gun to tape with his world-leading performance and fastest time since 2015. It wa More

DOHA 2019: 'Nervous' Warholm and 'chilled' Benjamin set up hurdles final duel | 9/28/2019 9:05 pm

Norway's defending champion Karsten Warholm and American pretender Rai Benjamin will go toe-to-toe in Monday's 400 metres hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships after both eased through their semi-finals on Saturday. Warholm and Benjamin -- whose other main rival Qatar's Abderrahman Samba also progressed -- are seen as dangers to breaking Kevin Young's 27-year-old world record of 46.78sec. They both went under the 47-second barrier in the race of the season so far in Zurich last mo More

Doha 2019: Yohan Blake fifth as USA's Christan Coleman claims 100m gold | 9/28/2019 3:19 pm

DOHA, Qatar — Yohan Blake finished fifth as Christian Coleman of the USA clocked a personal best 9.76 seconds for gold in the men's 100 metre at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships a short while ago. The USA's Justin Gatlin was second in 9.89s while bronze went to Canada's Andre DeGrasse who recorded a personal best 9.90s. Blake finished in 9.97s behind South Africa's Akani Simbine, who clocked 9.93s.     More

Doha 2019: Tyquendo Tracey out of 100m after 4th place finish | 9/28/2019 12:08 pm

DOHA, Qatar -- The only other Jamaican in the men's 100m at the 2019 IAAF World Championhips, Tyquendo Tracey, was fourth in his heat, failing to advance to the final of the event. Tracey clocked 10.11s behind South Africa's Akani Simbine, who won that heat in 10.01s and Briton Zharnel Hughes, who finished second in 10.05s. Italian Filippo Tortu, who also clocked 10.11s, was given the nod for third place to book a spot in the final based on time. More

MEDAL HUNT ON | 9/28/2019 1:30 am

Doha, Qatar — Sprinters Yohan Blake and Tyquendo Tracey advanced to the semi-finals of the men's 100m as did Kemar Mowatt in the 400m hurdles, but there was no luck for triple jumper Jordan Scott who pulled up injured and failed to make the final. Blake, who became the youngest World champion in 2011, looked to be in tip-top shape as he eased home in 10.07 seconds (-0.3 mps) ahead of Jimmy Vicaut of France, who was second in 10.08 seconds. Arthur Cisse of the Ivory Coast was third in 10. More

'Don't count me out as yet,' — Gayle | 9/27/2019 11:50 pm

Doha, Qatar — Despite being ranked third in the world, Jamaica's Tajay Gayle got the scare of his life by qualifying for the men's long jump final by snatching the 12th and final spot. The 23-year-old Gayle, who was third in the International Association of Athletics Federations Diamond League final, was clearly below his best registering jumps of 7.81m on his first attempt, a foul on his second in what would have been a massive jump, then rounded out his third and final jump with 7.89m.He More

Briana thanks supporters | 9/27/2019 9:20 pm

Teenaged Jamaican sprinter Briana Williams has expressed relief and gratitude after what she described as a very emotional summer while announcing her withdrawal from the Jamaican team taking part in the 17th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar. On Thursday evening her Coach Ato Boldon told the Jamaica Observer she would not be travelling to Doha, after the Jamaican track officials had replaced her with Jonelle Smith, who would join Elaine Thompson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in More

Doha 2019: Kemar Mowatt out of men's 400mH | 9/28/2019 11:09 am

DOHA, Qatar — Jamaica's Kemar Mowatt placed sixth in the men's 400 metre hurdles heat, failing to advance to the finals of the event at the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar. Running from lane eight in the first of three heats, Mowatt recorded 49.32 seconds to finish at the back of the field a short while ago. He was the only Jamaican in the event. Brazil's Alison Dos Santos won the race in a personal best 48.35s. In second was Turkey's Yasmani Copello , who was able to cop More

Doha 2019: World Champs Schedule - Saturday, September 28 | 9/28/2019 3:36 am

Today's schedule 8:15 am — men's discus throw (qualification Group A) 8:30 am — women's 100m (heats) 9:15 am — men's 800m (heats) 9:30 am — men's pole vault (qualification) 9:45 am — men's discus throw (qualification Group B) 10:05 am — men's 400m hurdles (semi-finals) 10:45 am — men's 100m (semi-finals) 11:15 am — women's 800m (semi-finals) 11:25 am — women's hammer throw (final) 12:00 pm — mixed 4x400m relay (heats) 12:40 p More

Doha 2019: Tajay Gayle creates history for Jamaica with long-jump win | 9/28/2019 3:01 pm

DOHA, Qatar — Tajay Gayle created history for Jamaica today when he won gold in the long jump at the 2019 IAAF World Championships currently underway in Doha, Qatar. Gayle, who is the first Jamaican man to win a field title at the world championships, led from the start after recording a personal best 8.46m with his opening jump. He bettered that distance on his fifth attempt, reaching 8.69m to break the National Record of 8.62m. The silver medal went to Jeff Henderson (8.39m) of the U More

Action from Doha World Athletics Championships | 9/27/2019 11:10 pm

Jamaica Observer photographer Collin Reid captures Jamaican athletes in competition and training at the 17th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar. Photos courtesy of Courts, Alliance Investments, KFC and JNBS. More

Hot air? Qatar claims stadium cooling not eco risk | 9/28/2019 8:55 pm

As the World Athletics Championships get underway in Qatar on Friday, the environmental cost of holding a top-tier sporting event in a sweltering desert has been thrust into the global spotlight. Organisers insist they have taken steps to mitigate the impact of the athletics showcase and that the far larger 2022 football World Cup, also due to be held in the Gulf monarchy, will be carbon-neutral. But climate activists are sceptical, warning that events which rely heavily on energy-hungry air c More