The World Athletics Championships begin in Eugene, Oregon on Friday with Great Britain’s track and field stars hoping to claim glory and secure medals.
Great Britain’s finest track and field stars will attempt to leave their mark on the global stage, with the likes of Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson hoping to defend their titles won in Doha three years ago. After starring in Tokyo last summer, names like Josh Kerr, Keely Hodgkinson and Laura Muir will be desperate to add to their medal totals.
There are plenty of rivals to watch out for, but here are five of Great Britain’s biggest medal hopes in Oregon ahead of the Championships - the biggest track and field event outside of the Olympics.
Dina Asher-Smith (100m, 200m)
While she is a fairly straightforward choice given she is one of the poster girls of British Athletics, Dina Asher-Smith is undoubtedly one of the nation’s greatest medal hopes. The 26-year-old saw her Olympic dreams go up in smoke due to a heartbreaking hamstring injury, but she appears set to use the disappointment as fuel in the United States.
Asher-Smith faces a battle to retain the 200m title she won in Doha three years ago as Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson continues to impress. It will also be difficult to improve on her 100m silver medal, although it would be foolish to count Asher-Smith out.
Max Burgin (800m)
Max Burgin is one of the leading names to take home a medal, British or not, at these World Athletics Championships. The 20-year-old is the fastest man over 800m this year after running one minute 43.52 in Finland last month.
The stunning performance was the fourth fastest British 800m time in history. Burgin, who missed the Olympics in Tokyo last summer due to injury, is clearly looking to make up for lost time as he prepares to make his major championships debut.
Keely Hodgkinson (800m)
The rising talent is now an elite superstar following her Tokyo breakthrough. At last year’s Games, Keely Hodgkinson stormed to silver medal in the 800m and she is clearly a hope for more hardware in Eugene.
While she will battle compatriot Jemma Reekie, Hodgkinson’s greatest threats stem from Team USA star Athing Mu - who claimed gold at the Olympics - along with Mary Moraa. The Kenyan defeated Hodgkinson in Stockholm last month and will look to register another win over the Brit.
Josh Kerr (1500m)
In Tokyo, Kerr took a stunning bronze medal in a time of 3:29.05, which is second only to Sir Mo Farah in Britain's all time list of men's 1500m times. The Scot hasn’t raced much in 2022 thus far, although he broke the British and European indoor mile record in Boston earlier this year in February.
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Kerr is hoping to find form at the right time once more, and he will have to hold off the threat of Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen. He will also have to top fellow Scots Jake Wightman and Neil Gourley if he is going to take home another medal from Oregon.
Laura Muir (1500m)
Laura Muir secured an epic Olympic silver medal in the 1500m 12 months ago, and the Scot has arrived at these World Championships full of confidence. Her tournament begins on Friday, and Muir has targeted a podium finish as she eyes another medal.
The 29-year-old has endured a difficult spell with injury threatening to derail her preparation for the Championships, but she remains one of Britain’s greatest medal chances. Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon stands as the woman to beat heading into the event while defending champion Sifan Hassan will also be in the mix.
