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Kerley favorite in the 100m

Olympic vice-champion last summer in Tokyo, the American Fred Kerley is the favorite for the always eagerly awaited 100m title, after being flashed in 9 sec 76 at the US selections at the end of June, the best performance in the world for the season.

"I believe in myself above all else, and I'm happy to be one of the favourites," said the 27-year-old sprinter.

Behind Kerley in the world balance sheets, another American, Trayvon Bromell (9.81), and the Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala (9.85), American visa obtained in extremis and expected in Oregon only a few hours before his entry into the running, could do well game. And why not the Jamaican Yohan Blake?

Italian Lamont Marcell Jacobs after his 100m victory at the Italian Championships in Rieti on June 25, 2022 Riccardo FABI AFP / Archives

As for Marcell Jacobs, reigning Olympic champion and indoor world champion in the 60m this winter, everything will depend on his physical form: he has not run the slightest international 100m in 2022 (4 races of lesser level in Italy) , the fault of a strained thigh in particular.

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Warholm back on his feet?

Stopped in his first race of the summer season by a "mini tear" in a hamstring at the beginning of June in Morocco, the Norwegian Karsten Warholm, Olympic champion and double world champion in the 400m hurdles, is engaged in a race against watch it since.

"The last five to six weeks have been hell," admits the Scandinavian hurdler, a year after winning Olympic gold in Tokyo by smashing the world record (45.94).

Norwegian Karsten Warholm in the 400m hurdles at the Berlin meeting on September 12, 2021 Odd ANDERSEN AFP / Archives

But "I feel ready, and when I say ready, that means 100%," he said.

"Obviously it's not the ideal way to approach championships. It's going to be a challenge in the sense that I don't know what I can offer, but I know for sure that until I get injured , my training was very good", positive Warholm (26), who will have to keep an eye on the American Rai Benjamin and the Brazilian Alison dos Santos.

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Zhoya and the Americans

At home, the Americans are huge favorites in the 110m hurdles, with an expected duel at world record level between Grant Holloway and Devon Allen, who will join the American football team of the Philadelphia Eagles after the competition.

Frenchman Sasha Zhoya during his victory over 110m hurdles in the final of the World Junior Championships on August 21, 2021 in Nairobi Tony KARUMBA AFP / Archives

A curiosity of the Worlds, the Frenchman Sasha Zhoya is surprising: in just five races over the senior hurdles (1.06 m against 99 cm), the 20-year-old junior world record holder has already achieved a breathtaking performance (13.17 in Caen end of June) which could open the doors to the world final.

Its dazzling progression can be observed from the playoffs on Saturday.

© 2022 AFP