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Lap of honor for Felix
The highlight of the first night's show, the mixed 4x400m final is lit up by the selection of Allyson Felix, who could bring the host country the first title of its World Championships, the first in history on American soil.
At 36, this legend of athletics will above all end an exceptional career in front of his audience, and could still improve his record of 18 world medals (including twelve titles), for his tenth participation in the event.
Three years ago, she had contributed to the American title in Doha for the entry into the program of the only mixed discipline.
Praised by specialists for her unique stride, the notoriety of Felix and her eleven Olympic medals has gone beyond the track.
After giving birth to her daughter Camryn in 2018, she denounced Nike and the sports industry, which then devalued the contracts of pregnant sportswomen.
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100m: how is Jacobs?
After the preliminary round for certain athletes only in the morning, the men's 100m organizes its heats in the evening and the introduction of Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs is particularly awaited.
The 27-year-old Italian saw his summer season disrupted by a thigh injury, and did not compete in a single international-level race before Eugene.
Olympic 100m champion, Italian Marcell Jacobs (c) wins the final during the Italian Championships, June 25, 2022 in Rieti Emiliano GRILLOTTI AFP / Archives
His federation confirmed on Wednesday that the 60m indoor world champion would be fine at the start after "reassuring" news.
It remains to be seen whether his form will allow him to compete with the fastest runners of the year, such as his American runner-up at the Tokyo Olympics Fred Kerley or the Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala, holder of the African record and author of the 3rd best performance. of the year, who finally obtained his visa in extremis for the United States.
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1.500 m: Hassan reappears
Double Olympic champion in the 5,000m and 10,000m in Tokyo last summer, the Dutch Sifan Hassan did not compete in any high-level race in 2022.
Registered in three disciplines in Eugene with the 1,500 m, the series of which take place on Friday, the 29-year-old athlete will only compete in two but will decide which ones at the last moment, his coach Tim Rowberry told the specialized site Let's Run.
Dutch Sifan Hassan celebrates her victory in the 10,000m final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, August 7, 2021 Jewel SAMAD AFP / Archives
"From a personal point of view, Sifan tries not to do too much so as not to burn out as the Paris 2024 Games approach," he said to explain the low-key season of the cross-country skier.
© 2022 AFP