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Day 7 of the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo turned into a memorable outing for Team USA, as star sprinters Noah Lyles, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, and hurdler Rai Benjamin delivered gold medal-winning performances on Friday, September 19. The electrifying session saw American athletes stamping their authority on the track, while Dutch sensation Femke Bol retained her crown in the women’s 400m hurdles.
Noah Lyles secures fourth World Championship gold
In the highly anticipated men’s 200m final, Lyles reaffirmed his dominance by storming to victory in 19.52 seconds. His compatriot Kenny Bednarek was close behind with a season’s best of 19.58 seconds, while Jamaican youngster Bryan Levell clinched bronze in a personal best 19.64 seconds.
The win marked Noah Lyles’ fourth World Championship gold medal in his signature event, further solidifying his reputation as the sprint king of this generation.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden makes history with double gold
In the women’s 200m final, American sprint sensation Jefferson-Wooden stunned the field with a world-leading and personal best time of 21.68 seconds. Britain’s Amy Hunt claimed silver in 22.14 seconds, while Jamaica’s defending champion Shericka Jackson finished third in 22.18 seconds.
This triumph came just days after Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won the women’s 100m final on Sunday with a world-leading 10.61 seconds, making her the first American woman to achieve the sprint double (100m and 200m gold) at the World Championships. Her performances have placed her firmly among the all-time greats of U.S. sprinting.
Rai Benjamin claims long-awaited 400m hurdles gold
For Benjamin, Tokyo 2025 brought a long-cherished moment. The reigning Olympic champion stormed to victory in the men’s 400m hurdles final, clocking a season’s best 46.52 seconds.
Brazil’s Alison dos Santos took silver in 46.84 seconds, while Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba secured bronze with a season’s best 47.06 seconds. For Rai Benjamin, this was his first-ever World Championships gold, adding another glittering chapter to his illustrious career.
Femke Bol retains women’s 400m hurdles crown
While the U.S. dominated much of the evening, Dutch superstar Femke Bol once again proved unbeatable in the women’s 400m hurdles final. She crossed the line in 51.54 seconds, the world-leading time this year.
American Jasmine Jones impressed with a personal best 52.08 seconds to win silver, and Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalová claimed bronze in a national record 53.00 seconds.
Pedro Pichardo tops men’s triple jump
In the men’s triple jump final, Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo produced a world-leading 17.91m to take gold. Italy’s Andrea Dallavalle earned silver with a personal best 17.64m, while Cuba’s Lázaro Martínez leapt to 17.49m for bronze.
Day 7: A golden night for Team USA
With victories from Noah Lyles, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, and Rai Benjamin, the United States further strengthened its position atop the medal standings. Jefferson-Wooden’s historic double, Lyles’ fourth world crown, and Benjamin’s long-awaited triumph defined Day 7 as a golden night for American athletics.
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