Fans are encouraged to book their seats as the IAAF World Championships countdown continues

Organisers of this year’s IAAF World Championships in Doha are encouraging people to get involved as the event reaches its ’50 days to go’ milestone.

The biggest athletics event of the year begins on September 27 and will see thousands of athletes, support teams and fans descend on the Khalifa International Stadium for 10 days of competition.

With the countdown now well and truly on, the local organising committee is focusing on some of the stories of key people helping to deliver the championships – from the guidance of H.E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, through to a chief medical officer who has worked at championships across the globe.

More on the ’50 faces behind Doha 2019′, including athletes Mutaz Essa Barshim, Abubaker Haydar Abdalla, Mariam Farid and Owaab Barrow, can be read here.

READ MORE: Ones to watch at the IAAF World Championships Doha 2019

With residents from over 80 different countries calling Qatar their home, a real effort has been made to unite everybody. The large expat community in Qatar includes 1991 world 10,000m champion Liz McColgan, whose well-established Doha Athletic Club sees sporting hopefuls of all ages train under her guidance.

“I love the kids that I coach as I have met many different nationalities in my six years in Doha,” she said.

“For sport, Doha has some of the best facilities in the world and as a country I love how strong it is in its heritage and culture.”

The multicultural feel-good vibes will be echoed around the stadium during the championships, but fans will also get a taste of different communities before even entering Khalifa International Stadium, thanks to the vibrant World Athletics Village fan zone.

It will offer cuisine from across the world, along with live entertainment getting under way each afternoon, with different community groups giving high energy performances to add to the excitement before the competition even begins.

READ MORE: Doha can deliver

Ensuring the traditional Qatari hospitality is showcased to the world, the local organising committee has devised strong links across the community which, when combining the number of schoolchildren, along with initiatives and partner engagement, will mean that over 100,000 people in Qatar have played a role in the IAAF World Athletics Championships, which still has tickets available.

“This is the biggest sporting event that the region has ever hosted so why would people not want to come and watch it or play a part?” said Sheikha Asma Al Thani, director of marketing and communications for the local organising committee.

“We have seen amazing efforts across the country from people getting involved, which is clear from the diverse people shown in the 50 days countdown.

“The championships will see Qatar unite with the whole world, so no matter where you are from there is a strong connection with your own culture and everybody can help make sure that the world knows how great of a country Qatar is with so much to offer.”

A guide to Super League action taking place in Bydgoszcz, including ones to watch, a timetable and TV info

The European Team Championships may not have the lustre of its predecessor, the European Cup, in its heyday, but it continues to be an eagerly awaited fixture on the calendar.

Although few countries – Britain included – still send their best teams, many of the continent’s elite will be on show in this now biennial meeting when Super League action takes place from August 9-11.

Defending champions Germany are expected to fight it out for the title with hosts Poland, who could win the event for the first time.

The venue of Bydgoszcz, which held the 2004 European Cup, will be familiar to many athletes as arguably the most frequent host of international championships in the world.

With next year’s event switching to eight nations, only the first seven of the twelve teams will avoid relegation. Scoring will go from 12 points down to 1 point in each event, with heats and finals for individual track events up to 400m.

Here we highlight some of the teams in action. For our full two-page preview and predictions by Paul Halford, see the August 8 edition of AW magazine, which is available digitally here or to order in print here.

Ones to watch

Germany

The most successful country in the history of this competition have sent a solid team capable of defending their title.

The five-time champions will be looking for “douze points” from Alina Reh (3000m), Gesa Felicitas Krause (steeplechase), Claudine Vita (discus), Hanna Klein (5000m) and Christina Schwanitz (shot).

World leader with a 7.16m leap, Malaika Mihambo will be a strong favourite in the long jump too.

Best position: Winners (2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017)
AW prediction: Winners

Great Britain & Northern Ireland

Despite a far from full-strength squad (see below), Britain will be hopeful of holding off France and Italy for a top-three placing.

Such is their strength in depth and with weaker nations competing, Britain won’t be expecting many low scores.

Charlie Da’Vall Grice in the 1500m and Jodie Williams in the 200m are strong contenders. Meanwhile, Nick Miller (hammer), Shelayna Oskan-Clarke (800m), Zak Seddon and Rosie Clarke (3000m steeplechase), Dwayne Cowan (400m), Emily Hosker-Thornhill (3000m), Jessica Judd (1500m), Nick Goolab (5000m) and Sarah Inglis (5000m) are good hopes for double figures in points.

Best position: 2nd (2009, 2010, 2013)
AW prediction: 3rd

Poland

Now one of the powerhouses of world athletics, evidenced by a runner-up position in 2017, they have a good chance to win on home soil.

Among those hoping for wins will be pole vaulter Piot Lisek, hammer thrower Wojciech Nowicki, shot-putter Michal Haratyk and javelin thrower Maria Andrejczyk.

With these field-eventers looking certain to score highly, what could be more significant are the positions of the big players in more open events: Adam Kszczot (800m), Justyna Swiety-Ersetic (400m), Marcin Lewandowski (1500m), Sofia Ennaoui (1500m) and Patryk Dobek (400m hurdles).

Best position: 2nd (2017)
AW prediction: 2nd

France

Always good bets to be on the overall podium, France are led by pole vault world record-holder Renaud Lavillenie, a six-time winner in his event.

Jimmy Vicaut may be favourite for the short sprint. Hammer throwers Alexandria Tavernier and Quentin Bigot and sprint hurdler Pascal Martinot-Lagarde should be big point-scorers.

Melina Robert-Michon, the 2017 world bronze medallist, seeks her fifth straight discus title.

Best position: 3rd (2009, 2015, 2017)
AW prediction: 4th

GB team and entry lists

Men
100m: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey; 200m: Richard Kilty; 400m: Dwayne Cowan; 800m: Jamie Webb; 1500m: Charlie Da’Vall Grice; 3000m: James West; 5000m: Nick Goolab; 3000m steeplechase: Zak Seddon; 110m hurdles: Cameron Fillery; 400m hurdles: Chris McAlister; High jump: Tom Gale; Pole vault: Charlie Myers; Long jump: Jacob Fincham-Dukes; Triple jump: Ben Williams; Shot put: Scott Lincoln; Discus: Gregory Thompson; Hammer: Nick Miller; Javelin: Tom Hewson; 4x100m: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Dominic Ashwell, Shemar Boldizsar, Oliver Bromby, Richard Kilty; 4x400m: Niclas Baker, Ethan Brown, Alex Knibbs, Martyn Rooney, Lee Thompson, Rabah Yousif

Women
100m: Daryll Neita; 200m: Jodie Williams; 400m: Amy Allcock; 800m: Shelayna Oskan-Clarke; 1500m: Jessica Judd; 3000m: Emily Hosker-Thornhill; 5000m: Sarah Inglis; 3000m steeplechase: Rosie Clarke; 100m hurdles: Cindy Ofili; 400m hurdles: Meghan Beesley; High jump: Morgan Lake; Pole vault: Sophie Cook; Long jump: Abigail Irozuru; Triple jump: Naomi Ogbeta; Shot put: Sophie McKinna; Discus: Kirsty Law; Hammer: Sophie Hitchon; Javelin: Bekah Walton; 4x100m: Kristal Awuah, Rachel Miller, Daryll Neita, Alisha Rees, Bianca Williams; 4x400m: Zoey Clark, Emily Diamond, Laviai Nielsen, Jessica Turner, Jodie Williams

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (pictured, top) has been named as captain of the British team, 13 years after making his senior international debut at the European Cup in Malaga.

“The European Team Champs has always been a special event for me, obviously being my first senior GB cap at the age of 17 back in 2006,” he said.

“I have had my ups and downs and I am ready to push on with the week and captain the side to victory. I am excited for the challenges that come with it.”

A list of final entries for all Super League teams can be found here.

Super League timetable

UK times (local time is one hour ahead)

Friday 
5.30pm Discus W
5.33pm 400m hurdles M Hts
5.49pm 400m hurdles W Hts
6.05pm 100m M Hts
6.28pm 100m W Hts
6.40pm 400m M Hts
6.52pm 400m W Hts
7.02pm Javelin M
7.13pm 100m H W Hts
7.28pm 110m hurdles M Hts
7.40pm 200m M Hts
7.59pm 200m W Hts
8.15pm 4x400m Mixed Non-scoring

Saturday
3.00pm Pole vault W
3.03pm Long jump M
3.06pm High jump M
3.30pm 400m hurdles M
3.40pm 100m W  3.53 Hammer M
3.56pm 800m W  4.04 400m M Final
4.12 3000m SC W  4.29 100m M Final
4.37pm 400m hurdles W Final 4.50 Shot M
4.55pm 5000m M  5.17 Triple jump W
5.20pm 400m W Final 5.35 Javelin W
5.38pm 3000m W  5.54 1500m M
6.07pm 4x100m W Ht B
6.17pm 4x100m M Ht B
6.33pm 4x100m W Ht A
6.46pm 4x100m M Ht A

Sunday 
2.00pm Pole vault M
2.03pm Triple jump M
2.06pm High jump W
2.30pm 110m hurdles M Final
2.40pm 100m hurdles W Final 2.53 Hammer W
2.58pm 800m M
3.10pm 1500m W
3.25pm 3000m ‘chase M
3.50pm Shot W
3.53pm 200m W Final
3.59pm 200m M Final
4.05pm Long jump W
4.08pm 5000m W
4.35pm Discus M
4.38pm 3000m M
4.58pm 4x400m W Ht B
5.11pm 4x400m M Ht B
5.30pm 4x400m W Ht A
5.43pm 4x400m M Ht A

Other leagues

While Super League action is taking place in Bydgoszcz, First League competition will be held in Sandnes, Norway, while Second League action is in Varaždin, Croatia and Third League competition in Skopje, Macedonia.

Details of the teams in each league can be found here.

TV guide

Live streaming of both Super League and First League action will be available on the European Athletics website, while fans in the UK can also watch Super League coverage on the BBC and on Eurosport.

Friday August 9: 5.30pm-8.30pm – BBC Red Button, Connected TV and online
Saturday August 10: 2.30pm-7.00pm – BBC Two, repeated 7.00pm-11.30pm – BBC Red Button
Sunday August 11: 1.30pm-6.00pm – BBC Two, repeated 6.00pm-10.30pm – BBC Red Button

Serena Williams eased into the third round of the Rogers Cup in Toronto with a straight-set victory over Belgium's Elise Mertens.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion, 37, won 6-3 6-3 to set up a tie with Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova.

"I'm loving going out there," said American three-time winner Williams.

Elsewhere, Japan's Naomi Osaka moved a step closer to regaining her world number one ranking after her opponent Tatjana Maria retired at 6-2 down.

Ashleigh Barty's second-round defeat saw her surrender her eight-week reign as world number one, with Karolina Pliskova also in the running to take over at the top.

Czech third seed Pliskova beat American Alison Riske 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 to set up a meeting with Anett Kontaveit in the next round.

Elsewhere, defending champion and fourth seed Simona Halep beat American Jennifer Brady 4-6 7-5 7-6 (7-5) while sixth seed Elina Svitolina - winner in 2017 - defeated Katerina Siniakova 6-3 3-6 6-3.

Belinda Bencic - champion in 2015 - beat Julia Goerges in straight sets but there were defeats for Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki.

Williams dominates after steady start

Eighth seed Williams - playing in her first match since losing the Wimbledon final - last won the title in 2013 and is using this year's tournament as a warm-up for the US Open, which starts on 26 August, where she will go for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.

After a slow start, in which Mertens went an early break up, world number 10 Williams fought back to win five consecutive games before serving out the opening set.

In the second set, 23-year-old Mertens broke Williams' serve at the first opportunity but Williams quickly responded and went a double break up.

She sealed the match on break point with world number 20 Mertens having made eight double faults and 19 unforced errors in the match.

"I feel like my movement is great," said Williams. "[I've] been working on my fitness, so I felt like it really was able to shine through."

Her third-round meeting with Alexandrova - who beat China's Zhang Shuai 6-4 6-3 - will be her first against the Russian qualifier.

KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Trey Starks surprised everyone, including himself during Wednesday night’s Brandt qualifying night program for the 59^thannual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals at legendary Knoxville Raceway.

The Washington native who flies to Iowa weekly to compete at the historic half-mile oval aboard the No. 44 J&J sprint car co-owned by Jeff McCall and Scott Gobrecht, took the lead on lap five and held off a late charge from Australian James McFadden to earn his first victory at the track and his first with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.

Starks victory came on a night when eight of the top 10 qualifiers failed to transfer into the feature through their heat races.

“We were a product of our circumstances here tonight,” Starks explained. “A lot of fast guys didn’t make it through their heat, and that cut out a lot of guys that you have to beat. I can’t believe we won our preliminary night at the Knoxville Nationals.”

Still he held off McFadden in uncharacteristic fashion by running the bottom groove around Knoxville Raceway.

“I almost never run the bottom,” Starks said. “That’s the point of running here is to get better at this race track. I used to be a strictly top guy, but I knew that is where Mark was going to be … We were best on one and two on the bottom and I’m not sure where I was fastest in three and four.”

McFadden, who won the Knoxville 360 Nationals last week aboard Kasey Kahne Racing’s No 9, brought the KKR entry home second

“It’s been really cool to get a lot of laps at Knoxville before the Nationals,” he said. “I’ve never had a chance to do that before and it’s really helped, and it’s been a really great time.

“I was annoyed at that caution. I felt like we were better on the long runs but in clean air we weren’t going to be able to handle them. If the race was longer, I feel like we might have had a little better shot at them.”

Sheldon Haudenschild, who won the Ironman 55 at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, last weekend, finished third.

“I can’t complain after that,” Haudenschild said. “Too many driver errors. I would make a mistake and bounce it off the wall. I have to clean it up on my end. Our car was fast. I made those mistakes and I was still able to run them down.”

Polesitter and early leader Mark Dobmeier finished fourth with fast-qualifier Aaron Reutzel, who was the high point man on the night, coming home fifth.

The victory capped a difficult week (see separate story) for Starks and his team, including a crash and an engine failure.

Donny Schatz raced from 24^thin feature to finish 11^thafter he and Kyle Larson shared the fourth row in the B main. Larson missed the feature and because of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule at Michigan Int’l Speedway, his participation the remainder of the week is in limbo.

Reutzel ended up with 487 points with Tim Kaeding second with 466 points.

To see full results, turn to the next page.