The CITIUS MAG Podcast | A Running + Track and Field Show TOKYO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 7 RECAP: MELISSA JEFFERSON-WOODEN COMPLETES THE DOUBLE; FEMKE BOL & NOAH LYLES REPEAT + RAI BENJAMIN GETS HIS WORLD GOLD AFTER DQ CONTROVERSY
Join Chris Chavez, Eric Jenkins, Anderson Emerole and Mitch Dyer as they recap all the highlights from Day 7 at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. Some of today's highlights include champions holding their ground as Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Femke Bol, Noah Lyles, Pedro Pichardo, and Rai Benjamin each struck gold.
Jefferson-Wooden completes sprint double
- Five days after her 100m win, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden added the 200m title in a world-leading PB of 21.68, becoming the eighth-fastest woman of all time.
- She outran defending champ Shericka Jackson and a late-surging Amy Hunt (GBR), who earned silver in 22.14. Jackson held on for bronze in 22.18.
Bol defends 400m hurdles title
- Femke Bol ran a commanding race to defend her 400m hurdles world title in 51.54, the fastest major championship time of her career.
- USA’s Jasmine Jones grabbed silver with a PB of 52.08.
- Emma Zapletalova (SVK) took bronze in a national record of 53.00 — just the second Slovak woman to ever win a world medal.
Pichardo strikes gold in final triple jump leap
- Pedro Pichardo (POR) delivered gold with his final jump of 17.91m, a world lead, to reclaim the crown he first won in 2022.
- Italy’s Andrea Dallavalle had taken the lead moments before with a PB of 17.64m. Lazaro Martinez (CUB) won bronze with a season’s best 17.49m.
Lyles takes fourth straight 200m world title
- Noah Lyles held off a packed field to win his fourth consecutive world 200m title, clocking 19.52 in a historically deep final.
- Teammate Kenny Bednarek earned silver in 19.58. Bryan Levell (JAM) ran a PB of 19.64 for bronze. Letsile Tebogo (BOT) and Zharnel Hughes (GBR) also dipped under 19.80.
Benjamin adds world 400m hurdles title
- After silvers in Doha and Budapest, Rai Benjamin finally claimed world gold in the 400m hurdles, winning in 46.52 despite clipping the final barrier.
- Alison dos Santos took silver (46.84) and Abderrahman Samba bronze (47.06).
- Ezekiel Nathaniel set a Nigerian record of 47.11, beating Karsten Warholm, who faded to fifth.
Women’s 800m semifinals
- Lilian Odira led the fastest semi (1:56.85), followed by Audrey Werro (1:56.99).
- Jessica Hull rebounded from her heat fall, running 1:57.15 (Oceania record) to sneak into the final.
- Keely Hodgkinson and Mary Moraa won their respective semis.
- Medal contenders Tsige Duguma and Halimah Nakaayi were eliminated.
Men’s 5000m heats
- Isaac Kimeli and Biniam Mehary won their respective races.
- Final will include: Jimmy Gressier, Grant Fisher, Cole Hocker, Jakob Ingebrigtsen (snuck in after 1500m elimination)
- Out: Andreas Almgren (fastest outdoor time this year) and Niels Laros (stepped off track)
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Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram + Eric Jenkins | _ericjenkins on Instagram + Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme on Instagram + Mitch Dyer | @straightatit_ on Instagram + Paul Hof-Mahoney | @phofmahoney on Instagram
Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram