2025 World Championships, Day 6

Men’s 200 Meter Semi Finals

Defending champ Noah Lyles (TC Williams, Alexandria) looked unbeatable in his race, running a world leading 19.51, the fastest semi final in history.  Kenny Bednarek (Rice Lake, WI/Indian Hills CC) was the third fastest qualifier at 19.88.  Courtney Lindsey (Rock Island, IL/Texas Tech) did not advance.

Women’s 200 Meter Semi Finals

All four Americans advanced to the final:  Melissa Jefferson (Carvers Bay, SC/Coastal Carolina), Anavia Battle (Wayne, OH/Ohio State), Brittany Brown (Claremont, CA/Iowa) and Mc Kenzie Long (Pickering Central, Pickering, OH/Mississippi).  It will be quite a battle in the final between defending Champion Shericka Jackson (Jamaica) at 21.99 and Melissa Jefferson at 22.00.

Men’s 800 Meter Semi Finals

The two Americans, Donoavan Brazier (Kenowa Hills, Alpine Township, MI/Texas A+M) and Bryce Hoppel (Midland, TX/Kansas) failed to advance to the final.  Donavan, the 2004 NSAF NBNO champion,  missed out by .02, running 1:43.82.  Cian Mc Phillips (Ireland) was the surprise leader, running a national record 1:43.18.

Women’s 800 Meter Round 1

Two of the three Americans advanced.  Sage Hurta-Klecker (Hamilton, NY/Colorado) was the  4th fastest qualifier at 1:58.43.  Maggi Congdon (Steamboat Springs, CO/Northern Arizona)  qualified as well, but Roisin Willis (Stevens Point, WI/Stanford), though running faster than Congdon, did not.

Women’s 5000 Meter Qualifying

Four time US champion Shelby Houlihan (Sioux City East, Sioux City, IA/Arizona State) was the third fastest qualifier.  The Kenyans lead the way with both Beatrice Chebet, who has already taken the 10000 meters crown, and Faith Kipyegon, the 1500 meters champion a few days ago, qualifying.  Josette (Norris) Andrews (Tenafly, NJ/Georgetown) qualified as well.  Elise Cranny (Niwot, CO/Stanford), 9th in this event in 2023, did not. 

Women’s High Jump Qualifying

No Americans advanced to the final.  Six time US Champion Vashti Cunningham (Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas, NV), Emma Gates (Cascae, Turner, OR/Arizona) and Sanaa Barnes (Byron Nelson, Trophy Club, TX/Auburn) finished 17th, 22nd and 25th, respectively

Men’s 400 Meter Finals

There were three Botswanans in the final; Jacory Patterson (Dreher, Columbia, SC/Virginia Tech) was the only American. The Botswanans took places 1-3-8 (a bit of a challenge in the 4x400 they will be) and Jacory was 7th.

Women’s 400 Meter Finals

We sort of knew that Sydney Mc Laughlin Levrone (Union Catholic, Scotch Plains, NJ) was going to win.  We just didn’t know if she could get the world record.  She came close, running the second fastest time ever (47.78) which was also the meet record.  No other American made the final.  National records were set in this race for the US, Dominican Republic and Cuba.

Women’s Triple Jump Final

This event saw the return of world record holder and four-time champion Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela after a two year hiatus.  She could only manage third, with 2025 World Indoor champion Leyanis Perez Hernandez of Cuba winning in a world leading 14.94 (49-0).  Thea La Fond of Dominica (John F. Kennedy, Silver Spring, MD/Maryland), the defending Olympic champion, got the silver.  She was the 2011 NSAF NBNO champion.

Men’s Javelin Final

The event was loaded with past Olympic and World Championship champions, and one was a surprising winner.  Keshorn Wolcott (Trinidad and Tobago) took the gold after not having won a major championship since the 2012 Olympics.  2022 Champion Anderson Peters (Grenada/Mississippi State) got the silver and Curtis Thompson (Florence, NJ/Mississippi State) the bronze.  It was the third medal ever in the event for an American.  Tom Petranoff got the silver in 1983 and Breaux Greer silver in 2007.

Bagels in Japan

There are several places where they are sold, believe it or not.   We chose the New New York Club Bagels and Sandwich Shop.  They were surprisingly good, and could put a good challenge to an authentic New York bagel.

Tokyo Subway Crush

Yes, we did experience this.  You don’t really have to hold on to anything once you’re as you are supported by other humans who are on all sides.