A selection of track and field stars poised to make a big impression at the IAAF World Championships in Doha

The countdown to Doha 2019 is well and truly on. With the 50 days to go landmark passed and athlete selections starting to be confirmed, the climax to this year’s outdoor track and field season is getting tantalisingly close.

AW recently looked at 10 of the top women who will line up for the world championships and, here, we look at some more athletes – both male and female – who are likely to be contenders in Qatar.

Christian Coleman

Event: 100m
PB: 9.79
Country: USA
Age: 23
Achievements: 100m world silver medallist in 2017, 60m world indoor champion, 60m world indoor record-holder
Current form: The young American is the fastest man in the world so far this year thanks to his run of 9.81 in June. Memorably won silver behind compatriot Justin Gatlin and ahead of Usain Bolt at the World Championships in London two years ago and is now fully focused on taking the next step up to the top of that global podium.

Noah Lyles

Event: 100/200m
PBs: 9.86/19.50
Country: USA
Age: 22
Achievements: 2016 world U20 100m champion
Current form: The second-fastest man over 100m this year (9.86) will focus solely on the 200m in Doha and his personal best of 19.50 from Lausanne last month puts him out in front of the competition. He won the recent US championships, taking his first national outdoor title over 200m, and the colourful sprinter looks on course to secure what would be his first senior global crown, too.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen

Event: 1500m/5000m
PBs: 3:30.16/13:02.04
Country: Norway
Age: 18
Achievements: European 1500m and 5000m champion
Current form: The teenager destroyed his European under-20 record last month, not to mention breaking the Norwegian record for 5000m at the Müller Anniversary Games in London. He won his national title over 1500m and only Kenya’s Timothy Cheruiyot has gone faster so far in 2019.

Dalilah Muhammad

Event: 400m hurdles
PB: 52.20
Country: USA
Age: 29
Achievements: Olympic champion, two-time world silver medallist, world record-holder
Current form: Muhammad’s form could not really be any better, given that she broke the world record for her event when winning at the US Championships. World U20 record-holder Sydney McLaughlin will also feature on the American team but the odds appear to favour Muhammad upgrading her silver medal from London.

Abderrahman Samba

Event: 400m hurdles
PB: 46.98
Country: Qatar Age: 23
Achievements: Asian champion
Current form: There will be a lot of attention on this home favourite in Doha in what will be one of the most keenly fought races of the championships. Samba has raced sparingly this season but the Asian champion won that title at the Khalifa Stadium this year and can rely on plenty of support in the face of opposition such as world leader Karsten Warholm and Rai Benjamin.

Laura Muir

Event: 1500m
PB: 3:55.22
Country: Great Britain
Age: 26
Achievements: European champion, European indoor champion
Current form: A calf problem means she won’t run in Birmingham, but her previous Diamond League run in London brought victory. After fourth place at London 2017, hopes are high that she can reach the podium.

Kevin Mayer

Event: Decathlon
PB: 9126 points
Country: France
Age: 27
Achievements: World champion, world record-holder, 2016 Olympic silver medallist
Current form: The French world record-holder has not competed in a full decathlon yet this year but has been showing fine form in a number of events and looks set to retain his world title.

Hellen Obiri

Event: 5000m
PB: 14:18.37
Country: Kenya
Age: 29
Achievements: World champion, Olympic silver medallist, world cross country champion
Current form: The Kenyan who landed world cross gold is looking good on the track, coming close to her PB when winning in London last month.

Mutaz Essa Barshim

Event: High jump
PB: 2.43m
Country: Qatar
Age: 28
Achievements: World champion, Olympic silver medallist
Current form: As with Abderrahman Samba, Barshim will have a huge amount of home pressure and expectation to deal with during the world championships. The reigning champion is making his way back from injury, and had to settle for second place at the Anniversary Games, but expect him to rise to the occasion in his home city.

Armand Duplantis

Event: Pole vault
PB: 6.05m
Country: Sweden
Age: 19
Achievements: European champion
Current form: This hugely talented teenager, who only turned professional at the start of this outdoor season, has already enjoyed some memorable tussles with the likes of Poland’s Piotr Lisek and American world champion Sam Kendricks. Can he can find his European championship winning – and world U20 record-breaking – form from Berlin when he lands in Doha?