1h agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 9:36amLive updates: World Athletics Championships Day 8
Results:
Matt Denny qualified for the discus final with the fourth largest throw of the morning’s qualifiers.Rebecca Henderson (21st) and Lizzy McMillen (33rd) completed the women’s 20km race walk, but Alexandra Griffin did not finish.
Rhydian Cowley (20th), Declan Tingay (23rd) and Tim Fraser (39th) competed in the men’s 20km race walk.
Aussies in action on day eight:
Heptathlon (from 8:00pm AEST):Â Camryn Newton-Smith, Tori WestJavelin (8:00pm AEST)800m (10:06pm AEST)Men’s 4x400m relay (8:35pm AEST)Women’s 4x400m relay (9:00pm AEST)Men’s 4x100m relay (9:25pm AEST)Women’s 4x100m relay (9:45pm AEST)Women’s Javelin final (10:10pm AEST): Mackenzie Little, Lianna DavidsonWomen’s 5,000m final (11:05pm AEST) :Â Rose Davies, Linden Hall
3m agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 11:23am
Moral national record?
devastating about the men’s DQ but still – what a race, what an achievement, what another team of Aussies that the nation is proud of!
– record in our hearts
Too soon?
8m agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 11:18amMEN’S 4x400M RELAY: AUSTRALIA HAS BEEN DISQUALIFIED!
OH NO!
Aidan Murphy was outside of the changeover mark when he took the baton and as a result Australia has been disqualified!
What a disaster.
8m agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 11:17am
WOMEN’S 4x400M RELAY: America’s women show the men how it’s done
No problems whatso ever for the Americans, who get through easily to confirm their status as favourites.
Belgium and the Netherlands also cruise through into the automatic qualification spots from that heats.
19m agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 11:06amWOMEN’S 4x400M RELAY: Aussie women miss out
That was a great run from the Aussies, but they faded badly to miss out on a spot in the final.
The finish in 3:25.43, the third-fastest ever by an Austraslian team.
Mia Gross had a good run, handing over in third place.
Ellie Beer cut across from the stagger well and was second in a good position on the rail, a fair way behind the dominant Jamaicans. She handed over in third.
Jemma Pollard had a stonking run, getting the Aussies back up to third.
But then the field came back with a vengeance onto the shoulders of Carla Bull.
Jamaica win, Norway power through to finish second in a new national record time, Poland took the third and final automatic spot.
Italy and Spain have the next two spots.
Australia still beat Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which is impressive.
27m agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 10:59am
WOMEN’S 4x400M RELAY: Aussies in heat one
Australia has been named in a very tough heat one of the women’s 4x400m.
Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Poland, Norway and Spain have all run fairly quick times this year.
But the only team that Australia has run faster than in this heat is Jamaica, so it’s going to be very tough to get through.
That being said, heat two isn’t too shabby either: USA, Belgium, Netherlands, France, South Africa, Ireland — all capable of getting through given the right conditions.
First three go through automatically, plus the two fastest losers.
Mia Gross, Ellie Beer, Jemma Pollard and Carla Bull are the Aussies who’ll run a lap each.
27m agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 10:58am
Super Sunday, incoming
Those four men ran so well against very stiff competition! So looking forward to tomorrow night now! Plus the high jumpers and Denny and Jess Hull tomorrow.
– Kate
And there’s still three more relay squads who could get into their finals…
33m agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 10:52amMEN’S 4x400M RELAY: AUSTRALIA BREAKS 41YO NATIONAL RECORD!
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A brilliant run from Australia!
It’s 2:58.00! A new Australian record!
That’s stood since 1984!
Cooper Sherman took them out and handed over in fifth. But then Reece Holder had the run of his life to get to the lead!
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Aiden Murphy then held firm before handing over to Thomas Reynolds!
He had to fight to hang on and he did, finishing third behind Belgium and Botswana, holding off Great Britain and Northern Ireland, who qualify as a fastest loser.
Wonderful!
45m agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 10:41am
MEN’S 4x400M RELAY: THE USA ARE OUT!
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ASTONISHING!
They USA left out three of their best runners and have paid for it with a spot in the final!
South Africa are first, Qatar second and Netherlands third.
They qualify automatically.
Kenya and China, which ran a national record, are in the hot seat as the two fastest losers.
The USA were last at the final change, Jenoah McKiver had to much to do. Too much to do!
There was a bad change early in the race which didn’t help – but my goodness.
They have won nine of the last 10 gold medals in this event.
What a shock.
48m agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 10:38am
MEN’S 4x400M RELAY: Aussies to run in heat two
We start our relay action tonight with two heats to determine who will run in tomorrow’s final.
The first three from each heat qualify, plus the two fastest losers.
In heat one, four teams have run under three minutes so far this season:Â South Africa, United States, France and Kenya.
Australia will run in heat two and are one of only three teams to have dipped under three minutes this year, alongside Botswana and Belgium.
Australia will start in lane nine of the heat.
Australia’s team is Cooper Sherman, Thomas Reynolds, Reece Holder and Aidan Murphy.
57m agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 10:28am
RELAYS: Australia hoping to add to four relay medals at world championships
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Hands up if you love a good relay?
Yeah, me too.
We have the men’s and women’s 4×400 and 4x100m relays coming up.
Australia has four medals in relay events in world championship history.
Steve Brimacombe, Paul Henderson, Tim Jackson and Damien Marsh won a silver in the men’s 4x100m relay in Gothenberg in 1995. The USA team that year dropped the baton in the heats.
Also at that championships, Cathy Freeman, Melinda Gainsford-Taylor, Lee Naylor and Renee Poetschka ran to a bronze medal behind the USA and Russia.
In Edmonton in 2001, Brimacombe was back, this time partnering Adam Basil, Paul Di Bella and Matt Shirvington to win a bronze medal in the 4×100 behind Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago after the USA were disqualified.
In 2009 in Berlin, Joel Milburn (Heat Only), Ben Offereins, John Steffenson, Tristan Thomas, Sean Wroe won bronze in the 4x400m behind the USA and Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
1h agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 10:23am
Denny is a discus thrower
Hi Simon,
Very excited to watch our relays tonight plus Dr Mackenzie in the javelin. It is really hard to study AND do sport at the highest level.
By the way your blurb says Denny will bein the javelin final but it’s discus.
– Kate
Isn’t Matt Denny competing in the discus not javelin?
– JL
Yes, that’s right.
You’d think I wouldn’t get that wrong, wouldn’t you…
Discus Denny does, in fact, throw the discus, not the javelin.
1h agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 10:22am
WOMEN’S 800M FINAL: Jess Hull’s ‘fun little side quest’
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I’m sure most of us have little side-quests alongside our day jobs.
A bit of gardening perhaps? Crochetting?
Well Olympic 1,500m medallist Jess Hull’s side quest is the 800m – and she’s the Australian national record holder in the event.
Read all about her hopes and fears for tomorrow’s final, here.
1h agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 10:12am
HEPTATHLON: Aussies continue their campaigns with the long jump
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The Aussies were in action this morning in the heptathlon, the long jump kick-starting the second day.
Camryn Newton-Smith leaped out to 5.90 and Tori West 5.64 in what it turning into a gruelling competition for them both.
With two events to go, the javelin and the 800m, Newton-Smith sits 18th overall (4,385pts) and West 19th (4,300).
Anna Hall of America had her worst event of the competition this morning, but still has a comfortable lead with a total of 5,041 points.
Her teammate Taliyah Brooks is second (4,930) with Katarina Johnson-Thompson (4,874) of Great Britain and Northern Ireland being chased all the way for the final medal spot by Ireland’s Kate O’Connor (4,824).
They have just started their javelin throws.
1h agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 10:07amMEN’S DISCUS: Matt Denny does it ‘easy’ to qualify for final
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This morning, Matt Denny threw the fourth-longest mark in qualifying, hitting 66.63m, to qualify for Sunday’s final.
The 2022 world champion Kristjan Čeh, who beat Denny at the Diamond League final last month, qualified second behind two-time world and Olympic champion, Daniel Ståhl.
“I am ready for the final but everybody will be ready,” Čeh said.
“It is going to be interesting, especially for the spectators. I believe we will put on a great show, although I don’t like the circle here – it’s too fast for me.”
Lithuanian world record holder Mykolas Alekna did not make the automatic qualifying mark, but his brother, Martynas Alenka, did.
Well that’s not going to be at all confusing, is it…
“It felt easy today,” Denny said.
“I have been preparing in Australia, trying to stay away from the heat.
“It was weird watching the first four days of competition in Australia. This is a very young Australian team. I feel old and I am only 29. It keeps me accountable.
“I want to win and keep a high standard but also enjoy time with those coming through the ranks. It gives me a lot of energy.”
Should be a fun one.
1h agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 10:01am
20KM WALK: Aussies toil
This morning the walkers got their second crack at the streets of Tokyo in the 20km distance.
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Rebecca Henderson (21st) and Lizzy McMillen (33rd) completed the women’s race for Australia, but Alexandra Griffin did not finish.
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Maria Pérez won gold for Spain, with Alegna González walking to a regional record to claim silver and Nanako Fujii claiming bronze in a sprint(?) finish with Paula Milena Torres.
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It was a Japan national record for Fujii, who paid credit to her coach, who died last month.
“I have been waiting for this moment for a while and it finally happened,” he said.
“Winning the bronze medal in my country feels very special. I am honoured to do it at home.
“I am wearing the black ribbon in honour to my coach who passed away last month. I know he is looking after me from above.”
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In the men’s race Rhydian Cowley (20th), Declan Tingay (23rd) and Tim Fraser (39th) all did superbly.
As we’ve already heard, Brazil’s Caio Bonfim won gold and proceeded to wrap himself in the finishing banner.
Zhaozhao Wang was second for China, with Spain’s Paul McGrath in bronze.
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1h agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 9:57am
20KM WALK: The wedding ring mystery
Look, I’m not one to go into a deep dive on many things, but I have some questions for Mr Bonfim.
Have a look at these two photos…
The photo on the right is from his silver medal win last week, with a ring on his right hand.
And the photo on the left is from this morning.
Is that not his wedding ring on his finger?
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The Brazilian said that he lost his wedding ring 3km into the 20km race walk today.
AND YET, THE PHOTO SAYS OTHERWISE!
Except, that is not his wedding ring.
This is his wedding ring, on his left hand.
(Getty Images)1h agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 9:41am20KM WALK: Brazilian winner loses wedding ring in race
It does look like he’s wearing a wedding ring here… (Getty Images)
Brazil’s Caio Bonfim claimed gold in the men’s 20km race walk this morning.
And it’s probably a good thing he did.
After all, in the third KM of the race, he lost his wedding ring.
The Brazilian edged out Zhaozhao Wang of China, with Spain’s Paul McGrath winning bronze.
“I lost my wedding ring in the third kilometre,” the 34-year-old said.
“I believe my wife will be OK because I won today.”
Here’s hoping, anyway…
“After taking silver in the 35km walk, my wife told me to believe I would win gold.
“I did not know I was in first place. I overtook the Chinese and Spanish athlete on the last lap but I thought I was second and accelerated to try to win a medal.
“It was a tough race and I knew I could grow as the race progressed, that I could connect with the leading group. I gradually moved up a few places. This is a world championships of resilience.”
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The Olympic silver medallist from the Paris Games said his victory proves that perseverance is key.
This was his first international gold medal.
“This is my eighth world championships. I did not finish my first one in 2013 and I won gold today.
“This is my fourth world championships medal and I am honoured to be part of the same generation of athletes as (400m hurdler) Alison dos Santos.
“People in Brazil can now say, ‘Caio Bonfim won medals as well.'”
Now he has to go home — sans wedding ring — and try to make it up with his wife.
And it seems she’s not the only family member who this gold medal is needed to make amends with.
“The oldest of my three children, Miguel, told me he missed me,” Bonfim said.
“I said that my success could compensate for my absence. I am here for him and I made sure my effort was worthy of him.
“I thought of him and all my three sons in the last two laps. I won this for them, for Brazil.”
1h agoSat 20 Sep 2025 at 9:37am
Live updates: Day eight of the World Athletics Championships
‘Only two nights left?’ (Getty Images)
G’day folks and welcome to the penultimate day of action from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo!
My name is Simon Smale and I am in the chair, ready to bring you all the action as it happens across the next few hours, as relays a run, javelins fly and 5,000m runners go for gold.
It’s another busy night for Australia, with Camryn Newton-Smith and Tori West completing their heptathlon duties, Mackenzie Little going for gold in the javelin, and our record-breaking middle-distance runners Rose Davies and Linden Hall looking to make even more history in the 5k.
Then there’s our relay teams, who are also in action, plus the events there are no Aussies in, like the men’s 800m final and the women’s shot put.
It’s all happening in Tokyo, so let’s get into it shall we?
If you’ve got a question, hit me up using the comment button. If you just wanted to say hi, you can do that too.