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Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson began her bid for a maiden world title on day six of the World Athletics Championships in style, winning her heat with ease to keep Britain on track for a first gold medal in Tokyo.
Compatriot and training partner Georgia Hunter Bell won her heat to progress to the semi-finals too, but Jemma Reekie missed out on a spot in the next round.
Another Briton, world indoor 400m champion Amber Anning, ran a season’s best time but could only manage fifth in a thrilling women’s 400m final. All eight finalists ran sub-50 seconds time but the star of the show was the history-chasing American great Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who won in a championship record time of 47.78 – the second-fastest time in history.
And although Daryll Neita missed out, Dina Asher-Smith and Amy Hunt capped off a fine day for team GB as they qualified for the women’s 200m final, with Hunt running a personal best to qualify third-quickest behind defending champion Shericka Jackson and newly-crowned 100m champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.
Noah Lyles laid down a marker in the men’s 200m finals, running a world-leading 19.51s to send a statement to rivals Kenny Bednarek, Letsile Tebogo, Bryan Levell and Zharnel Hughes, who all advanced to Friday’s final.
Follow all the action, results and analysis from Tokyo below:
World Athletics Championships – day sixWhat next for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone?
McLaughlin-Levrone ran 48.29s in her semi on Tuesday but her blistering 47.78s in the final puts her within touching distance of the world record, 47.60s.
And that final was run was in less than ideal conditions, on an incredibly slippery, wet track after a downpour for most of the evening in Tokyo.
(Getty Images)
Flo Clifford18 September 2025 15:15
The action doesn’t stop – here’s what’s on the agenda for tomorrow…
09:33 Women’s 100m Hurdles Heptathlon
10:20 Women’s High Jump Heptathlon
11:30 Women’s Javelin Throw – Qualification, Group A
12:05 Men’s 5000m – Heats
12:30 Women’s Shot Put Heptathlon
12:45 Women’s 800m – Semi-Final
12:50 Men’s Triple Jump – Final
13:00 Women’s Javelin Throw – Qualification, Group B
13:15 Men’s 400m Hurdles – Final
13:27 Women’s 400m Hurdles – Final
13:38 Women’s 200m Heptathlon
14:06 Men’s 200m – Final
14:22 Women’s 200m – Final
Flo Clifford18 September 2025 15:00
Amber Anning: ‘I have so much more to give’
Amber Anning tells BBC Sport: “I was a bit disappointed but I gave it my best effort. That is the fastest I’ve ran all year. I had great progression through the rounds
“I felt like the race got away from me a little bit. I finished, I’m proud, fifth in the world you can’t complain. I have so much more to give, I’m looking forward to resting up and going again next season.”
There really wasn’t much she could do with this woman on the track.
(Getty Images)
Flo Clifford18 September 2025 14:43
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone wins women’s 400m
What an athlete this woman is. A championship record. The second-fastest time in history. In what is not even her first-choice discipline.
(Getty Images)
Flo Clifford18 September 2025 14:31
Records falling in the women’s 400m
The Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino sets a new national record of 47.98 in silver, while Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain has also run a new season’s best of 48.19 in bronze.
Amber Anning ran a new season’s best of 49.36, but it was only enough for fifth.
Every single finalist was under 50 seconds. Stunning.
Flo Clifford18 September 2025 14:29
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone wins women’s 400m!
Those three are well clear and it’s McLaughlin-Levrone storming ahead – Paulino just behind her!
It’s a championship record of 47.78 for McLaughlin-Levrone!!
Flo Clifford18 September 2025 14:27
McLaughlin-Levrone is already up alongside Anning and she’s straight into the lead, Naser and Paulino just behind her.
Flo Clifford18 September 2025 14:26
Then there’s Paris silver medallist Salwa Eid Naser and reigning world and Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino, the third and fourth fastest athletes of all time in the 400m.
This final should be a cracker.
Flo Clifford18 September 2025 14:25
Onto our last final of the night and it’s the hotly-anticipated women’s 400m final.
Amber Anning is running for GB, she’s in sterling form, but the biggest cheer goes up for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who has gone from hurdles to flat and looks like she was born to do this, frankly.
Flo Clifford18 September 2025 14:24
Leyanis Perez Hernandez wins women’s triple jump final
Over in the rather damp triple jump contest, Thea Lafond jumps a season’s best of 14.89m to put her in the silver medal position…
Leyanis Perez Hernandez leads with a world-leading 14.94, with Yulimar Rojas next up with her final jump…
It’s 14.71 for the Venezuelan and the defending champion must settle for bronze!
Cuba’s Perez Hernandez jumps 14.94 once again and cements gold in fine style.
Flo Clifford18 September 2025 14:22