’08 Olympic and ’09 World Champion LaShawn Merritt regained the top spot in the world in the 400 after running a world leading 43.74 ahead of the pr of American teammate Tony McQuay 44.40.  ’12 Olympic silver medallist Luguelin Santos of the Dominican was third in 44.52 after just passing, right before the finish, ’11 world bronze medallist and Florida State alum Kevin Borlee of Belgium in 44.54.  Kirani James of Grenada, the ’11 World and ’12 Olympic champion, faded to seventh in 44.99.  

In the men’s 800m the race favorite Duane Solomon took out the pace in 50.28 but couldn’t hold off the lethal final 100 meter kicks of world indoor champion Mohammed Aman of Ethiopia in 1:43.31 who raced the final 100m with American Nick Symmonds, 1:43.55.  Symmonds was right on Solomon’s shoulder with 400 to go with Aman a stride back.    Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti got third in 1:43.76 as Solomon fell back to sixth in 1:44.42.

    Russia’s Yelena Isinbaeva won her third world gold to go with her ’05 and ’07 titles by clearing a season best 4.89m, 16-0 1/2.  In what she said is her last competition, she made three attempts at a world record 5.07m, 16-7 1/2.  ’12 Olympic champion Jen Suhr cleared 4.82m on her second attempt to finish ahead of Yarisley Silva of Cuba who cleared on her third attempt.  

Robert Harting of Germany did not wait until the fifth round to win the Discus Throw (68.27m at the Olympics).  This time he took the lead in round 2 (68.13m) and won his third straight world title and finished with 69.11m in the fifth round.  Piotr Malachowski of Poland finished second for his second world silver (’09) at 68.36m and Gerd Kanter won his fifth world medal and seventh overall after finishing third with his second round throw of 65.19m.  

Milcah Chemos Cheywa of Kenya won her first world steeplechase title (after two consecutive bronzes) in a world leading 9:11.65.  Teammate Lidya Chepkurui got her first international medal with a second place finish in 9:12.55 as Sofia Assefa of Ethiopia matched her third place finish from the Olympics as she was outkicked in 9:12.84.

30 year-old Ganna Melnichenko of Ukraine (6586 points) beat three others in gaining their first  international medals as many of the top Heptathletes from the past few years did not compete (5th  place at the ’12 Olympics was 6599 points by Austra Skujyte of Lithuania).   Canada’s Brianne Theisen Eaton won silver at 6530 points and Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands was third with 6477 points as the top three scored prs.  It was the worst winning mark in worlds history.   The only other winning scores under 6700 points were in ’91, ’95 (Ghada Shouaa of Syria scord 6651 points), and ’01. 

In the women’s 400 hurdles semis, Czech sensation Zuzana Hejnova ran her fifth time under 53.60 seconds (only Kori Carter has also run under 53.6) this year to have the fastest time in 53.52.  Great Britain’s Perri Shakes-Drayton also broke 54 (53.92) as defending champion Lashinda Demus ran a season best 54.22 to qualify for the final along with ’13 US champion Dalilah Muhammad (54.08).  

In the men’s 400 hurdles semifinals all of the top runners qualified for the finals. Included on the list is two-time world champions Kerron Clement of the US and Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic (also ’04 and ’12 Olympic champion), ’12 Olympic silver medallist Michael Tinsley and bronze medallist Javier Culson of Puerto Rico (also two-time world silver medallist), and world leader Omar Cisneros (47.93 world leader to win heat) of Cuba and Jehue Gordon of Trinidad (heat winner in 48.10).

Olympic medallists Ivan Ukhov (gold), Erik Kynnard (silver), and Mutaz Barshim, Derek Drouin, and Robert Grabarz (last three all bronze)  but no world or previous Olympic medallists qualified.  World leader Bohdan Bondarenko of the Ukraine (pr 2.41) also qualified.  Americans Dusty Jonas, Jesse Williams (’11 world champion affected by ankle injury all year), and Keith Moffatt did not advance.

World leaders Aregawi (4:05.66 to win heat 2) , Kipyegon, and Dibaba all advanced in the women’s 1500 semis along with semi winner, ex-Duck Zoe Buckman (won heat 1 in 4:04.82), and Americans Mary Cain and ’11 World Champion Jenny Simpson.

Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopia advanced in the 5000m semis along with ’12 Olympic champion Mo Farah of Great Britain and ’07 World champion and two-time silver medallist American Bernard Lagat.  Americans Galen Rupp and Ryan Hill also qualified.

’12 Olympic silver medallist Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia qualified for the women’s triple jump final on her first attempt, 14.52m, bronze medallist and defending world champion Olha Saladuha of Ukraine was the top qualifier after her second round jump of 14.69m.  ’09 World silver medallist Mabel Gay (14.17) of Cuba and ’09 bronze medallist Anna Pyatykh (14.34m) of Russia qualified for the final along with Florida State alum Kim Williams (14.36m) representing Jamaica.