Trio of titles on a golden night for USA at world championships

There must be something special about the Japanese air for American sprinters as Noah Lyles and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden swept the 200 metres world titles in Tokyo, emulating Tyson Gay and Allyson Felix in Osaka 18 years ago. Rai Benjamin's win in the men's 400m hurdles – adding the world title to the Olympic gold he won last year – made it a special night for track and field powerhouse United States.

Lyles had to battle to get his head in front, but the showman with the dyed-blond locks managed it handsomely and secured a fourth successive 200m crown to emulate Usain Bolt. For the 28-year-old, who raised his arms to the heavens and then let out a mighty roar when his name was announced before the start, his feelings were the polar opposite to how he felt after winning Olympic bronze in Tokyo in 2021.

"At that time I was depressed, but this time I am energised," said Lyles, who went over and hugged his mum Keisha Caine Bishop. "My face is blasted all over Tokyo. This is amazing and such a joyous moment I am going to keep with me forever."

In contrast 100m champion Jefferson-Wooden coasted to victory, becoming the first double champion since another Jamaican sprint icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in Moscow in 2013. "I am now looking forward to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics," the 24-year-old said. "I definitely put a target on my back."

The women's 400m hurdles race lacked the drama of the men's – it was already without its superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who had instead swept to an imperious victory in the flat 400m on Thursday – with Femke Bol of the Netherlands retaining the title. Bol can only beat what is in front of her and she did that with aplomb as the Dutchwoman blazed home in 51.54sec, ahead of American Jasmine Jones and Slovakia's Emma Zapletalova. "This means the world to me," said the 25-year-old. "At these world championships I had to keep my title. I am proud of myself and my team for doing it."

Bol admitted that Olympic champion and world record holder McLaughlin-Levrone probably would have beaten her. The race was notable for the absence of McLaughlin-Levrone, who chose not to compete in the hurdles in the Japanese capital so she could concentrate on the 400m flat race.

"I most likely wouldn't be here with the gold medal but I really love to race her," said Bol. "She's the best athlete to ever do it in my event so I would have loved to do it, but I also love to see her do so well in the 400 metres."

Bol's win marked the end of another successful season after completing an incredible sixth Diamond League campaign unbeaten. But she has not fared as well in her infrequent match-ups with McLaughlin-Levrone, who beat her into third place on the way to gold at last year's Paris Olympics. Bol's first world title, in Budapest two years ago, also came without having to beat McLaughlin-Levrone, who missed the competition through injury.

McLaughlin-Levrone hinted on Thursday that she could attempt a remarkable 400m hurdles-flat double at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Bol said she would "love to see her do both". "If she feels physically ready for that, that would be amazing to see because I think if someone could pull it off, it would be her," she said.

If anything the most drama occurred in a sandpit involving a hop, skip and a jump – the men's triple jump final. Italy's Andrea Dallavalle livened up a competition that had not really caught fire by snatching the lead with his sixth and final effort – a personal best of 17.64 metres.

However, Portugal's long-time leader Pedro Pichardo reacted in the best possible way and with the last jump of the final, 17.91m, he regained the lead and won gold -- in the same stadium where he won the Olympic title four years ago.

Four years ago Norway were on a crest of an Olympic wave in track and field as Karsten Warholm and Jakob Ingebrigtsen won gold. Warholm broke the 400m hurdles world record that scorching hot day in Tokyo, and his celebration was one of the iconic moments of those Games.

On Friday he was far from his best, hitting the third hurdle, and slumped to the ground at the finish, putting his hand to his face. Ingebrigtsen won the 1,500m Olympic title in 2021, but only sneaked into 5,000m final by the skin of his teeth.

"I am not myself," he said. "I don't have any idea what I am going to do in the final. I will try my best. Can it be a medal for Norway? I don't know, maybe. We will see."