World Athletics Championships: Haruka Kitaguchi Misses Cut for Javelin Final

Japan's Haruka Kitaguchi, the reigning Olympic and defending world champion in the women's javelin throw, didn't come close to matching her season-best mark of 64.63 meters in the qualification round on Friday, September 19. As a result, she didn't advance to the women's final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships.

Kitaguchi flung her javelin 60.31 meters on her first attempt, followed by marks of 60.38 and 58.80 at Tokyo's National Stadium.

After each attempt, she smiled and brought energy to the crowd, which rooted with zealous delight for her. But she could not replicate the impressive title-clinching throws she made at the world championships in 2023 in Budapest (66.73) and the 2024 Paris Games (65.80).

Thirty-six women participated in qualifying (divided into Group A and Group B) and only the top 12 advanced to the final round. Kitaguchi finished in 14th place, and she could not hide her disappointment afterward.

athletics — *Haruka Kitaguchi leaves National Stadium after completing her qualifying round. (©SANKEI)*

"I was so happy with this crowd in the stadium but I could not throw well today," she told reporters before adding, "I feel very sorry."

Kitaguchi continued: "I had a difficult season with injuries. [But] I am happy to see Japanese people cheering me on and these will be great memories."

Due to a right elbow injury, Kitaguchi skipped the national championships in early July. She was diagnosed as having medial epicondylitis (aka golfer's elbow), which causes pain on the inner part of the elbow.

Kitaguchi Falls Short of Goal

Appearing at a news conference on July 7, the Hokkaido Prefecture native outlined the plan for her injury comeback.

"I'll try to return to action in late August," Kitaguchi said, according to Kyodo News. "I know better than anyone the joy and goodness of finishing first. I'll prepare well to win gold."

Also for Japan, Momone Ueda and Sae Takemoto were among the entrants. They finished 13th (60.49) and 30th (55.11) in qualifying.

Serbia's Adriana Vilagos had the best throw of the night (66.06), and Colombia's Valentina Barrios punched her ticket to the final by placing 12th (60.98).

The women's javelin final is on Saturday night, starting at 9:05.

Lyles Zooms to Victory in Men's 200

A day after running the seventh-fastest 200-meter dash in history in the semifinals, American Noah Lyles' performance in the final was nearly identical.

His time on Thursday: 19.51 seconds. The next day: 19.52.

US teammate Kenneth Bednarek was the runner-up in 19.58 and Jamaica's Bryan Levell placed third (19.64).

Lyles previously captured world titles in the 200 in 2019, 2022 and '23. And with exceptional running mechanics, the 28-year-old extended his world title reign.

"I can't wait for 2027 to become the only man to win five 200-meter titles," Lyles told a throng of media members, declaring himself the favorite for the next World Athletics Championships in Beijing.

"Today, I didn't have the start I had in the semifinal but I knew I was still moving fast. I studied my competitors," he added. "[And] I knew their momentum was going to show up once we got closer to 150 meters, but mine was going to build up after I hit that mark."

What was the key to winning the race?

"Being patient was the most important thing," Lyles said. "I controlled the race, [and] I knew some of the guys were going to tighten up. But I just stayed relaxed and got the job done. I am proud to be able to show all my skills."

Lyles was the 200-meter Olympic bronze medalist in both 2021 and '24.

Jefferson-Wooden Seizes the Moment in Women's 200

In the final event of the night, US sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden was the fastest woman in the 200-meter final. She reached the finish line in 21.68 seconds, recording the world's fastest time in 2025 in this event.

Britain's Amy Hunt was a distant second in 22.14, followed by Jamaica's Shericka Jackson, who entered the meet as the two-time defending champ, in 22.18.

Jefferson-Wooden also triumphed in the 100-meter final on Sunday, September 14. The 100-200 golden double delivered immense satisfaction to the 24-year-old South Carolina native.

"To dominate the 200 meters tonight feels special," Jefferson-Wooden said. "[And] to be able to win the double is amazing."

She noted that Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was the last woman to accomplish the feat, winning the 100 and the 200 at the world championships in 2013 in Moscow.

"It speaks volumes," Jefferson-Wooden told reporters, referring to her success this week in Tokyo. "Not a lot of women double anymore, so for me to come here, do the double and win gold medals just says a lot."

She added, "I am now looking forward to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics."

Benjamin Triumphs in Men's 400 Hurdles

American Rai Benjamin, the Paris Olympic gold medalist, won the men's 400-meter hurdles final in 46.52 seconds.

Brazil's Alison Dos Santos placed second (46.84) and Qatar's Abderrahman Samba nabbed the bronze (47.06).

Norway's Karsten Warholm, who ran the fastest 400 hurdles in history (45.94 seconds) to win the final at the Tokyo Olympics on August 3, 2021, was fifth in 47.58.

Benjamin ran an explosive yet efficient race, save for the fact that he clipped the final hurdle, which disrupted his stride a bit.

After a pair of silver medals and a bronze over the course of the past three World Athletics Championships, Benjamin, 28, is finally a world titlist.

"Once I started running really fast tonight, I knew I could win the race," was his assessment of his start. "It was just a matter of holding on."

Overall, he said, "I think I did a good job. Unfortunately, I got really greedy in the end and that's why I hit the last hurdle."

Benjamin dedicated his victory to his many supporters.

"I know my mum is at home watching, this medal is for her, and for everyone at home — for my coach from high school onwards," the New York native said. "They may not be here but they are with me in spirit."

Warholm Laments His Poor Performance

A stark contrast to Benjamin's euphoria was Warholm's post-race misery.

"I had something happen when I got out of the block, like a little strain in my left thigh," Warholm told reporters before adding, "I don't know if it's a hamstring or knee."

He continued: "Trying to hurdle with it wasn't good. I also crashed the third hurdle, [and] I tried to push but it was just a terrible race. A disaster."

Dutch Star Bol Repeats as Women's 400 Hurdles Champion

The Netherlands' Femke Bol built a commanding lead in the women's 400 hurdles final and cruised to victory.

Bol defended the title she won at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. In the Hungarian capital, she completed the final in 51.70 seconds.

This time, she was clocked in 51.54 in the Japanese capital while it was 23 degrees Celsius at race time.

"The race always starts hard for me, but I know my strong points," the 25-year-old Bol commented after her title-winning effort, according to the World Athletics website. "We worked really hard on this and I got this pretty comfortably. My job is just to keep running, keep the focus and do one hurdle at a time."

That diligent focus was on display in the final.

"This is my second gold medal in a row, which makes me really proud," Bol said, "[and] this means the world to me. At these world championships, I had to keep my title. I am proud of myself and my team for doing it."

Late Drama Lifts Pichardo in Triple Jump

Also Friday, Portugal's Pedro Pichardo captured his second world title in the men's triple jump, clinching the gold with a mark of 17.91 meters, a world-leading mark this year.

The 32-year-old claimed his first world title in 2022 in Eugene, Oregon.

He sealed his second title with his best aerial distance achieved on his last jump (his sixth attempt).

"This medal is for my father," said Pichardo, the Olympic champ in 2021 at the same venue. "It will stay in his house. He is the person who has been working and keeping me strong mentally.

"Last year, my mind wasn't very good. I wanted to retire, but my father and coach have been helping me a lot."

Italy's Andrea Dallavalle was second (17.64), seeing his lead evaporate when Pichardo made his final jump.

Cuba's Lazaro Martinez earned the bronze (17.49).

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.