The 17th edition of the World Athletics Championship started on Friday, September 27, 2019, and features several highlights spanning 10 days as the biennial event is staged in the Middle East for the first time.
A total of 1,972 athletes from 208 countries and territories are competing in the championships.
With the bulk of the competition taking place at the fully air-conditioned Khalifa Stadium, most athletes are shielded from the ferocious heat and humidity in Doha, Qatar where temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
Several African athletes and nations have emerged as some of the new stars that this year’s World Championships have produced.
Burkina Faso won its first-ever bronze medal, as Hugues Fabrice Zango, won Bronze in the Men’s Triple Jump.
The Gambia also made Championship history, placing 6th in the Women’s 200m.
“They will be very happy back home in Uganda. They are dancing now. It is a historic day,’‘ Nakaayi said as she celebrated with her compatriot, Winnie Nanyondo, the fourth-place finisher.
Ethiopia’s 5000m silver medallist Selemon Barega became one of the first athletes born this century to win a senior global medal.
Kenya’s Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich secured the bronze medal in Tuesday’s 800m final, adding to the East African nation’s medal tally.
Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi pulled off one of this year’s biggest upsets when she won the women’s 800m category, beating pre-race favorite Ajee Wilson who only managed bronze.
Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris who ended Mo Farah’s streak of world titles in 2017, successfully defended his crown in Doha on Monday by finishing the race at 12:58.85, just the third time in World Championships history that the 5000m title was won with a sub-13-minute time.
Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech won the 3000m steeplechase with a record time of 8:57.84.
See what people are saying:
What a fantastic run, bravo Beatrice Chepkoech on bagging the second Gold Medal for 🇰🇪 at the #WorldAthleticsChamps in the 3000 Metres Women’s Steeplechase final. Sisi sote tunajivunia sana utendaji wako, asante sana 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 pic.twitter.com/zyjKGp8mIR
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) September 30, 2019
Beatrice Chepkoech gets everything right to win 3000m steeplechase gold for Kenya 🇰🇪 in a #WorldAthleticsChamps record 8:57.84. pic.twitter.com/gYlxyEk74p
— IAAF (@iaaforg) September 30, 2019
Boom!
GOLD and SILVER MEDALS for #Ethiopia at the 2019 DOHA World Athletics Championships!!!!🥇#Ethiopia|n Muktar Edris has successfully defended his 5000m title, crossing the finish line in 12:58.85. Muktar’s compatriot Selemon Barega finishes second to take silver. pic.twitter.com/62U4UjxcPR
— Fisseha Tegegn (@Shewaye_Tagel) September 30, 2019