Americans in Tokyo, Day 1 of the World Outdoor Athletics Championships
This is a compilation of US performances on each day of the Tokyo 2025 World Championships
Men’s 35k Race Walk
In the heat, humidity of Tokyo, and adding the hills, it is surprising that only nine of the field of 55 did not finish. Now recall that only six walkers were disqualified.
Evan Dunfee, CAN won the 21.75 mile race in 2:28.33. Caio Bonfim, BRA was silver medalist in 2:28.55, and Hayato Katsuki, JPN, took bronze in 2:29.16, to the delight of the fans in Japan National stadium.
No American males walked the 35 kilometer race.
Women’s 35k Race Walk
The women’s race, run concurrently, was also a tremendous test of endurance and resiliance. The Spanish walk star, Maria Perez, who wins just about everything, walked the 35k in 2:39.01, in some just tough conditions. Antonella Palmisano, ITA, gave Italy its first medal in Tokyo 2025, with a time of 2:42.24. Paula Milena Torres, Ecuador, was bronze medalist in 2:42.44 NR.
US finishers: Maria Michta-Coffey, US, 22nd place, 3:05:02 SB, and in 30th, Miranda Melville, USA, in 3:12.07, and in 32nd, Katie Burnett, USA, 3:14:13.
Women’s Discus
Qualifying group A, Laulauga Tausaga, US had third best qualifier in 64.99m for discus. Laulauga is the defending champion in the discus, having won in Budapest 2023. Gabi Jacobs, US, was 8th in the qualifying A, with a throw of 59.70m. Tausaga moved on, Jacobs did not.
Qualifying group B: Jorinde Van Klinken, NED, had best qualifier, in 66.39m, with Valarie Allman, she who has won 11 times in 2025, in second in 66.07m. Shelby Frank threw 58.90m, and did not move on.
Men’s shot put, group A: Adrian Piperi, US lead qualifying in 21.47m in group A. Ryan Crouser, in his first throw since 2024, in a competition, threw 21.37m.
Men’s shot put, Group B: Tom Walsh, the Kiwi who wins just about everything he competes in, threw 21.74m for the best throw in both groups. Josh Awotunde, US champion, threw 20.70m, and Payton Otterdahl threw 19.78m, and did not move on.
Mixed 4x400m
US team lead with 3:10.18. Team was Bryce Deadmon, Lynna Irby-Jackson, Jenoah McKiver and anchor, Alexis Holmes. Great Britian and NI ran 3:10.22.
Evening Session
Steeplechase Men heats
Heat 1
Won by Edmund Serem, KEN, in 8:29.97, Getnet Wale, ETH second and Ryuji Miura , JPN. Isaac Updike, US was 8th in 8:33.46. Isaac stayed up close, but the last kilometer was a struggle, as the heat and humidity were real factors.
Heat 2
This was nuts! Geordie Beamish, World Indoor 1,500m champ (2024 Glasgow), fell, got up, rallied and took second behind Salaheddine Ben Yazide, MAR, 8:27.21-8:27.23. Frederick Ruppert, GER, who just ran 8:01, finished 4th. Big surprise was Kenneth Rooks, Olympic silver medalist, who never in contention, finishing in 8:45.57 in 11th.
Heat 3
Soufianne El Bakkali, MAR, on in 8:26.99. Lamecha Girma, ETH, who fell down pretty hard, got up, made the semi, finishing second. Daniel Michalski, USA, training partner of Kenneth Rooks, was third in 8:28.76, and is only US steepler in the men to move on!