By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

It's not often where you can view a competition to determine the best of 7.96 billion people in something as fundamentally human as running, jumping or throwing. 

But the World Athletics Championships, which begin a 10-day run in Eugene, Ore., and at Hayward Field, provide that opportunity for fans, and those moments for athletes. 

One year after the Tokyo Games conducted track and field in a mostly empty stadium due to COVID-19 concerns, a much smaller community in Oregon that has embraced its relationship to the sport of track and field for the past 60 years will get its best-ever chance to play host to the world. 

An updated venue, revered for its history as a grand stage domestically and internationally for track and field athletes, will hold more of the planet's outliers than at any point in its past. 

A year later than originally scheduled, and in the midst of an ongoing pandemic, the World Championships are in the United States for the first time and a carefully structured process will result in the awarding of gold, silver and bronze medals in 49 events. 

Here is a day-by-day sketch at what's coming from July 15-24. 

Day One

Friday, July 15 

Allyson Felix can make some additional history in her final global opportunity at the World Championships and the mixed gender 4x400 relay could offer a fitting farewell if it includes a gold medal around her neck. 

The legendary American sprinter has won more World Championships medals than anyone: 18, including 13 golds, three silvers and two bronzes. 

Felix finished sixth at the USATF Outdoor Championships, just high enough to secure her spot on the relay pool at Worlds. She was subsequently named to the mixed gender relay, an event that is still gaining traction at the global championships. 

She is part of the championships record 3:09.34, set in 2019 with Wil London III, Courtney Okolo and Michael Cherry. 

The morning session also includes the 20-kilometer race walks. The two Olympic gold medalists from last summer have both withdrawn. In the women's field, China's Liu Hong is the defending world champion and Olympic bronze medalist. In the men's race, Japan's Toshikazu Yamanishi is the world champion and Olympic bronze medalist. Japan's Koki Ikeda is the Olympic silver medalist. 

Hammer throw qualifying also takes place in the first session and it's potentially a big event for the U.S. But it's an even bigger event for Poland, which has reigning men's world champion Pawel Fajdek and reigning Olympic champion Wozciech Nowicki. And for the women, Anita Włodarczyk of Poland is the OIympic gold medalist and the best of all-time. 

The day also includes qualifying for the men's high jump, women's shot put, women's pole vault, men's long jump, heats of the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase and the first two rounds of the men's 100 meters. 

Italy's Lamont Marcell Jacobs is the Olympic gold medalist in the 100 meters but he should be tested by Americans Fred Kerley, Trayvon Bromell and Christian Coleman, all of whom will want to avoid any trouble and make it to the final.  

The day ends with the mixed 4x400 relay final and potentially a golden moment for Felix.  Poland, the reigning Olympic champion, stands in the way.  

- 8:45 p.m. Post-Meet RunnerSpace LIVE show

 

Day Two 

Saturday, July 16

It is still unclear whether Oympic champion Sifan Hassan from The Netherlands will contest the women's 10,000 final or run in the heats of the 1,500 meters. Unlike last year in Tokyo, the schedule doesn't allow her to do both. 

Even with Hassan in the 10,000, there are other serious gold medal challengers. Olympic silver medalist Kalkidan Gezahegne from Bahrain has withdrawn, but bronze medalist Letesenbet Gidey leads a strong contingent from Ethiopia. Gudaf Tsegay and Tsigie Gebreselama may be in position to sweep the medals. 

The U.S. will send Karissa Schweizer, Alicia Monson and Natosha Rogers to the starting line. World leader Elise Cranny of the U.S. is entered in the 5,000. 

The men's hammer final brings an opportunity for Americans Daniel Haugh and Rudy Winkler, both ranked in the top eight. The two Poles, and Olympic silver medalist Eivind Henriksen, are the favorites.  

Greece's Miltiadis Tentoglou, the Olympic champion in the men's long jump, should be among those who reach the finals. Switzerland's Simon Ehammer is the current world leader at 27-8.75 (8.45m). Olympic bronze medalist Maykel Masso is also in the mix. 

Lijiao Gong from China is the reigning Olympic champion in the women's shot put and was dominant in Tokyo last summer. She has not thrown anything close to her Olympic marks this year. American Chase Ealey is the current world leader, followed by China's Jiayuan Song and Canada's Sarah Mitton. 

The day ends with a quick answer to the question of who's the world's fastest man. Based on the results of the U.S. Championships, it could be Kerley.   

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Day Three

Sunday, July 17

A busy day begins early with the men's marathon set to go off on the streets of Eugene at 6:15 a.m. Native Oregonian Galen Rupp will represent the U.S. team and run over familiar ground in a return to his college hometown. Rupp has reportedly been working through an injury, so it's not clear if the 2016 Rio bronze medalist will be a threat in this race, but he will have the backing of the Eugene faithful. 

Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge, the Olympic champion, is not entered. Silver medalist Abdi Nageeye from The Netherlands is in the race and so is Bashir Abdi from Belgium. It's the marathon, so this could go many different ways. Kenya's Geoffrey Kamworor could get his moment. 

The men's distance running continues later in the day with the men's 10,000 meters and Olympic champion Selemon Barega from Ethiopia and silver medalist Joshua Cheptegei from Uganda are both entered. The world leader is American Grant Fisher (26:33.84) and training parner Moh Ahmed from Canada is not far behind. 

The women's hammer throw will miss the presence of reigning world champion DeAnna Price from the U.S., but Poland's Włodarczyk could face competition from Americans Brooke Andersen and Janee' Kassanavoid and NCAA champion Camryn Rogers from Canada. 

The morning will also see the start of the women's heptathlon, a first appearance for Michael Norman of the U.S. in the men's 400 meters first round, and NCAA champion Talitha Diggs in the women's 400-meter heats. 

The second native Oregonian, Ryan Crouser, will take center stage in the event and compete in the ring where he broke the world record in the shot put at last year's Olympic Trials. Crouser, who grew up east of Portland, is in many ways the face of the event with deep family ties to Eugene and Hayward Field. Usual suspects Joe Kovacs of the U.S. and Tomas Walsh of New Zealand should be nearby.

The women's pole vault final could bring a measure of redemption for American Sandi Morris, who broke a pole at the Olympics last year and was unable to overcome the mishap. Morris is the world leader at 15-9.75 (4.82m) and defeated Olympic champion Katie Nageotte at the U.S. Championships. Olympic bronze medalist Holly Bradshaw from Great Britain is also in the field. 

The final two events of the evening are also potential blockbusters. In the men's 110-meter hurdles, world champion Grant Holloway will try to defend his title against fellow Americans Daniel Roberts, Devon Allen and Trey Cunningham. The world record could be in play. 

In the women's 100 meters, Jamaican superstar Elaine Thompson-Herah returns to the track where she ran 10.54 a year ago. She and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson could sweep the medals. U.S. champion Melissa Jefferson, a newcomer to the world stage, is a definite wildcard.  

8:45 p.m. Post-Meet RunnerSpace LIVE show

 

Day Four

Monday, July 18

The day begins with another early morning and the women's marathon. Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir is out with an injury, but defending world champion Ruth Chepngetich is back after winning a hot race in Doha in 2019. 

Fellow Kenyans Judith Jeptum and Angela Tanui and Ethiopians Gotytom Gebreslase, Ababel Yeshaneh and Ashete Bekere should all be factors. 

The heptathlon will pick up for a second day and conclude in the evening with the 800 meters. Anna Hall from the University of Florida will contend for a medal at the end of a long season. The favorites are Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam from Belgium and 2022 world leader Anouk Vetter, the Olympic silver medalist from The Netherlands. 

The men's high jump final includes the rematch between one of the best stories of the Tokyo Games, when Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi and Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim agreed to tie for the gold rather than jump it off. 

One of the world's marvels, Venezuela's Yulimar Rojas, will try to extend her dominance over the women's triple jump. The world indoor and outdoor record holder, who jumped 51-7.75 (15.74m) to win her third consecutive global indoor gold medal in March in Serbia, has not competed in Eugene since the 2014 World U20 Championships. It will be her first time competing in the U.S. since the 2016 World Indoor Championships in Portland. 

The two finals that conclude the day are the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase and the women's 1,500 meters. 

A pair of sub-8 minute steeplechasers, Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali and Ethiopia's Lamecha Girma, could find themselves in a dual for gold. El Bakkali won gold last summer in Tokyo and Girma took bronze. 

In the women's 1,500 meters, Kenya's Faith Kipyegon, the Olympic champion, is one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all-time and is the favorite. Sinclaire Johnson's impressive performance at the U.S. championships puts her in the discussion for a potential medal, but Great Britain's Laura Muir, and a trio of Ethiopians, including Gudaf Tsegay, stand in the way.  

8:45 p.m. Post-Meet RunnerSpace LIVE show

 

Day Five 

Tuesday, July 19

It's difficult to imagine what Yaroslava Mahuchikh has been going through this year, or that any potential victor at these World Championships carries as a much of the world's hopes and well-wishes. When Mahuchikh won the World Indoor title in Belgrade, Serbia, less than a month after Russia invaded Ukraine, it was rightly hailed as a tremendous and emotional achievement in the midst of her country's shattered peace. 

Mahuchikh stands alone as the only woman to fly over a 2-meter bar this year and deserves to be labeled the favorite in the women's high jump. Ukraine really has two shots at this, with Iryna Geraschenko ranked No. 2 in the world. 

With the Russian athletes formally barred from participating at the 2022 World Championships, a response to Vladimir Putin's war, it would be a big moment to see Ukrainian flags flying proudly and a reminder that the Ukrainian people are fighting for their freedom. 

The rise of Jakob Ingebrigtsen to the top of global middle distance running has been in play since he raced at the Prefontaine Classic as a 16-year old. The Norwegian won the Olympic title last summer and at 21 years old will look to win his first World Championship. Ingebrigtsen has been training for the past couple of months in the U.S., in Flagstaff, Ariz., and California. 

If Karsten Warholm has recovered from a hamstring tear less than six weeks ago, then the potential is there for a big night for Norway. Warholm may not be recovered enough to take on Olympic silver and bronze medalists Rai Benjamin of the U.S. and Alison Dos Santos of Brazil, but the prospect of another epic men's final in the 400-meter hurdles finals is real. Another American, Trevor Bassitt, is coming on strong in this event as well. 

In the men's discus, Daniel Stahl from Sweden is the Olympic champion and world leader. Slovakia's Kristjan Čeh is the only other man over 70 meters this year. American Sam Mattis is currently sixth in the world and a medal threat.   

8:45 p.m. Post-Meet RunnerSpace LIVE show

 

Day Six 

Wednesday, July 20

As the meet passes the halfway point, the schedule thins out a bit. There are just two finals on the schedule and they both have medal implications for the United States. 

Olympic women's discus champion Valarie Allman has proven to be, perhaps, the greatest clean thrower in the history of the event. Her latest American record toss of 234-5 (71.46m) is the longest throw in the world in 30 years. 

Then, in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, a trio of strong Americans -- veterans Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs and newcomer Courtney Wayment -- will take on a dozen or so high quality East African women. 

Kenyan-born duo Winfred Mutile Yavi representing Bahrain and Norah Jeruto representing Kazakhstan set themselves apart this year as the only two women to run sub-9 minutes in the event. Jeruto beat Yavi in May in Eugene at the Pre Classic. 

Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai from Uganda can't be counted out and Ethiopia's Mekides Abebe is also on the shortlist of contenders. 

Coburn, the 2017 world champion, and Frerichs, the Tokyo silver medalist, have proved that they belong, too.   

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Day Seven 

Thursday, July 21

Noah Lyles vs. Erriyon Knighton, Part 2. 

If the top two sprinters in the U.S. final return the World final, it could take a spectacular effort to win the men's 200 meters. 

Lyles, the defending world champion, isn't ready to give up his title to the 18-year-old prodigy, at least not yet. It was Lyles 19.67 to Knighton's 19.69 in the U.S. final. 

Fast and talented as Lyles is, he may not be able to fend off Knighton for much longer. 

The women's 200 meters also features a compelling matchup between NCAA champion Abby Steiner of Kentucky and two legendary Jamaican women, world leader Shericka Jackson from Jamaica (21.55) and reigning Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah. Steiner's 21.77 at the U.S. final was a lifetime best and No. 2 in the world this year. 

Steiner will get her first taste of international competition and if the Ohio native can maintain her energy through the rounds the same way she did at Hayward Field twice already in June, she could give the Jamaicans a run for their money. Olympic silver medalist Christine Mboma from Namibia, just 19, suffered an injury in May and is not entered. 

8:45 p.m. Post-Meet RunnerSpace LIVE show

 

Day Eight 

Friday, July 22

It could be another spectacular evening with a lineup that includes both 400-meter finals and the women's 400-meter hurdles. 

Sydney McLaughlin of the United States has ascended to global stardom ever since advancing to her first Olympic Games in 2016 as a high school junior from Union Catholic High in New Jersey. 

McLaughlin lost to then-world record holder Dalilah Muhammad in 2019 and then took over as the gold medalist when she won in Tokyo with a world record 51.46. Less than a month ago, the newly married McLaughlin pushed the envelope again, lowering the record to 51.41. 

Muhammad should return to the final as well, and Femke Bol of The Netherlands and NCAA champion Britton Wilson of the U.S. could also be the ones pushing McLaughlin on the homestretch. 

The 400 hurdles final is preceded by the flat 400s. 

Shaunae Miller-Uibo, the Olympic champion from the Bahamas, has run a best of 49.91 this year but is certainly capable of more. The world leader is Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, the Olympic silver medalist. 

NCAA champion Talitha Diggs from Florida, the daughter of four-time Olympian Joetta Clark Diggs and neice of three-time Olympian Hazel Clark, is making her own name in the 400 meters. She ran under the 50-second barrier for the first time in the NCAA final (49.99) and then came back to win the U.S. title two weeks later. 

Michael Norman has been racing with focus and precision this year after a disappointing fifth-place finish in Tokyo. He has run a world-leading time of 43.56 and his time on the top of the podium may arrive in Eugene. Champion Allison, second at the U.S. meet in 43.70, is also second in the world. 

Olympic champion Steven Gardiner from the Bahamas has withdrawn from the meet with an injury, but Grenada's Kirani James is still a factor and world-record holder Wayde Van Niekirk from South Africa is making a bit of a comeback. 

Olympic champion Liu Shiying from China is among the leading contenders in the women's javelin, along with silver medalist Maria Andrejczyk and bronze medalist Kelsey-Lee Barber from Australia. Maggie Malone of the U.S. owns the longest throw in the world this year (65.73m), but has been inconsistent. Tatsiana Khaladovich from Belarus is another contender for gold. 

In the women's 35-kilometer walk, which takes place in the morning, three of the top seven performers this year are ineligible because they are Russian. Maria Perez from Spain and a trio of Chinese athletes should be up near the front.  

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Day Nine

Saturday, July 23

Six men have run under 1:44 this year in the men's 800 meters, led by Great Britain's Max Burgin at 1:43.52. Wycliffe Kinyamal Kisasy of Kenya and Marco Arop from Canada are ranked second and third, respectively. American Bryce Hoppel has been running with confidence as he gains more experience.

Kenyan Emmanuel Korir outkicked countryman Ferguson Rotich to win the Olympic title last year. 

Olympic champion Pedro Pablo Pichardo from Portugal will be pressed by Cuba's Jordan Alejandro Diaz Fortun, who jumped a world-leading 58-7 (17.87m) in late June. Reigning world champion Christian Taylor is entered but Achilles' tendon surgery in 2021 has limited him this season. Will Claye, 31, the 2019 world silver medalist, is also back for another attempt to win the title. 

In the women's 5,000, Ethiopians own the top four times in the world. But Sifan Hassan, the reigning Olympic champion, expects to be in the thick of the competition despite taking a long break after last summer and only beginning her training three months ago. Hassan is taking a more relaxed approach to the year, but her enormous talent can't be denied. 

Reigning world champion Hellen Obiri from Kenya is not entered. Americans Elise Cranny and Karissa Schweizer will fight to stay in contention with a chance to medal. 

Grenada's Anderson Peters owns the world-leading mark in the men's javelin. Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra is ranked third so far in 2022. 

The 4x100 relay finals conclude an exciting day at the track, with the U.S.-Jamaica rivalry at the center of the discussion. Jamaica's women are a clear favorite over the U.S. Italy's men will try to prove that their Olympic title was not a fluke.      

8:45 p.m. Post-Meet RunnerSpace LIVE show

 

Day 10

Sunday, July 24

Three of the breakthrough stars of track and field over the past few years  take center stage on the final night of the competition. 

Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis, the pole vault prodigy who represents Sweden and grew up in Lafayette, La., is in complete command of the event at 22 years old. He recently broke his own outdoor world best with 20-2.50 (6.16m) and is looking to add world title to his Olympic gold. Three years ago, at 19, he finished with silver. 

Athing Mu of the United States, settling into her identity as an Olympic champion after her meteoric rise in 2021, is the favorite to win the women's 800 meters. But the competition from the U.S., with world indoor champion Ajee' Wilson and Olympic bronze medalist Raevyn Rogers, is fierce.  

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, again, will be at it in the men's 5,000 meters where he will face perhaps the most loaded field in the entire meet. The Olympic 1,500-meter champion will take on Olympic 10,000-meter champion Selemon Barega of Ethiopia as well as Ugandan world record holder Joshua Cheptegei. And don't forget Fisher. 

German Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo is one of the favorites in the women's long jump. Australia's Brooke Buschkuehl, however, just jumped 23-4 (7.13m) to produce the top wind-legal mark in the world this year in Chula Vista, Calif. 

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn from Puerto Rico will try to extend her dominance in the women's 100-meter hurdles, but will have to get past some fast Americans in Keni Harrison, Alaysha Johnson and Alia Armstrong. Nia Ali, a fourth American entry, is the reigning World champion.  

The world's greatest athlete will be decided with the conclusion of the men's decathlon. It's a title that Canadian Damian Warner wants to hold onto, but young athletes such as Ayden Owens-Delerme of Puerto Rico and Kyle Garland of the U.S. are on the move.

The 4x400s will conclude the meet, events where the U.S. teams have enjoyed gold-medal success on most occasions.

In the morning, the men's 35K racewalk will get the day started. 

8:45 p.m. Post-Meet RunnerSpace LIVE show