A day-by-day guide to the athletics action in the Qatari capital

It has been a long season but now it is finally time for the IAAF World Championships.

When speaking to athletes during the course of this year, a recurring theme has been the balancing act involved in peaking for a moment which falls significantly later in the calendar than usual. It is a difficult trick to pull off but it would appear many have managed to do it. The recent Diamond League finals were evidence of that and there are rivalries and contests to savour right across the coming days of competition in Doha.

Here we take a day-by-day look through the world championships schedule.

Make sure you check out the September 26 edition of AW magazine for our full guide to the action, including rankings, news, interviews, facts, stats and more. A digital edition is available to buy and download here.

The dedicated Doha 2019 section of our website can be found here.

Live results | Final entry lists

Timetable

(UK times in brackets)

Day one – Friday September 27

16:30 (14:30) M Long jump – Qualification
16:35 (14:35) M 100m – Preliminary round
16:40 (14:40) W Hammer – Qualification Group A
17:10 (15:10) W 800m – Heats
17:30 (15:30) W Pole vault – Qualification
18:05 (16:05) M 100m – Heats
18:10 (16:10) W Hammer – Qualification
18:40 (16:40) W High jump – Qualification
18:55 (16:55) W 3000m steeplechase – Heats
19:25 (17:25) M Triple jump – Qualification
19:45 (17:45) M 5000m – Heats
20:35 (18:35) M 400m hurdles – Heats
23:59 (21:59) W Marathon – Final

The first medals of the championships will be claimed in the women’s ‘midnight’ marathon, which starts at 23:59 local time to try and avoid the worst of the heat out on the roads of Doha. “The overwhelming thrust of this is the welfare of the athletes,” said IAAF president Seb Coe in the pre-event press conference. “We are monitoring this very closely.”

Bahrain’s Rose Chelimo defends her title and goes up against athletes including Kenya’s two-time winner Edna Kiplagat. Britain is represented by Tish Jones and Charlotte Purdue.

Day two – Saturday September 28

16:15 (14:15) M Discus – Qualification Group A
16:30 (14:30) W 100m – Heats
17:15 (15:15) M 800m – Heats
17:30 (15:30) M Pole vault – Qualification
17:45 (15:45) M Discus – Qualification Group B
18:05 (16:05) M 400m hurdles – Semi-final
18:45 (16:45) M 100m – Semi-final
19:15 (17:15) W 800m – Semi-final
19:25 (17:25) W Hammer – Final
20:00 (18:00) X 4x400m relay – Heats
20:40 (18:40) M Long jump – Final
21:10 (19:10) W 10,000m – Final
22:15 (20:15) M 100m – Final
23:30 (21:30) M 50km race walk – Final
23:30 (21:30) W 50km race walk – Final

There are six titles to be won on day two, including in the men’s 100m and women’s 10,000m.

The women’s hammer and men’s long jump are up first, with Luvo Manyonga defending his title against world indoor champion Juan Miguel Echevarria, before the women’s 10,000m, which will not feature Britain’s Eilish McColgan after she chose to contest only the 5000m in Doha. Steph Twell will be pulling on the GB vest as she races over 25 laps of the track before switching her attention to the Frankfurt Marathon.

British champion Ojie Edoburun is joined by Adam Gemili and Zharnel Hughes – who are both entered for the 100m, 200m and 4x100m triple in Doha – for the shorter of the sprint events. USA’s Christian Coleman leads the world rankings with 9.81.

Again, to avoid the worst of the heat, the two 50km race walk events start at 23:30 local time, with Cameron Corbishley and Dominic King in action for GB.

Day three – Sunday September 29

20:05 (18:05) M 200m – Heats
20:40 (18:40) W Pole vault – Final
21:20 (19:20) W 100m – Semi-final
21:45 (19:45) M Triple jump – Final
21:55 (19:55) M 800m – Semi-final
22:35 (20:35) X 4x400m relay – Final
23:20 (21:20) W 100m – Final
23:30 (21:30) W 20km race walk – Final

Day three sees five finals take place. After qualification on Friday evening, British record-holder Holly Bradshaw could be among those going for the medals in the women’s pole vault in what she believes to be one of the most open ever competitions.

The men’s triple jump is set to see USA’s Christian Taylor and Will Claye fight for victory and behind them there looks to be another battle for bronze. Britain’s Ben Williams believes he will be among those fighting for a medal in a season which has seen him add 53cm to his personal best.

The final of the inaugural world mixed 4x400m relay takes place, while Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith could claim a first of three medals as she targets the 100m, 200m and 4x100m triple in Doha. Double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson and multiple global medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica are among her competition.

Road action continues with the women’s 20km race walk.

Day four – Monday September 30

16:30 (14:30) W Javelin – Qualification Group A
17:05 (15:05) W 200m – Heats
18:00 (16:00) W Javelin – Qualification Group B
18:20 (16:20) W 400m – Heats
20:05 (18:05) M 110m hurdles – Heats
20:30 (18:30) W High jump – Final
20:50 (18:50) M 200m – Semi-final
21:15 (19:15) M Discus – Final
21:20 (19:20) M 5000m – Final
21:50 (19:50) W 3000m steeplechase – Final
22:10 (20:10) W 800m – Final
22:40 (20:40) M 400m hurdles – Final

There are six gold medals to be won on day four, in the women’s high jump, men’s discus, men’s 5000m, women’s 3000m steeplechase, women’s 800m and men’s 400m hurdles.

Authorised neutral athlete Mariya Lasitskene hopes to become the first three-time world high jump champion but faces competition from Ukraine’s Yuliya Levchenko. Morgan Lake jumps for GB.

Doha will offer the first world 5000m final since 2005 without Britain’s 10-time global gold medallist Mo Farah. All three Ingebrigtsen brothers – Henrik, Filip and Jakob – are entered, while Britain’s team includes Andrew Butchart, Ben Connor and Marc Scott.

The women’s steeplechase features Kenya’s world record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech and three British athletes – Elizabeth Bird, Rosie Clarke and Aimee Pratt.

South Africa’s three-time world champion Caster Semenya will not race for a fourth 800m gold following the IAAF’s new rules on female classification. USA’s Ajee’ Wilson leads the entries with 1:57.72, with Brits Alexandra Bell, Shelayna Oskan-Clarke and Lynsey Sharp hoping to be in action, should all have gone to plan in the earlier stages.

The men’s 400m hurdles is one of the most highly-anticipated events of the championships and the final takes place on day four, where defending champion Karsten Warholm, who sits second on the world all-time list, will likely go up against two other athletes who join him in the top four on the global all-time rankings – Rai Benjamin and home favourite Abderrahman Samba.

Day five – Tuesday October 1

16:30 (14:30) M Hammer – Qualification Group A
16:35 (14:35) M 400m – Heats
16:50 (14:50) M High jump – Qualification
17:30 (15:30) W 400m hurdles – Heats
18:00 (16:00) M Hammer – Qualification Group B
18:15 (16:15) M 3000m steeplechase – Heats
20:05 (18:05) M Pole vault – Final
20:50 (18:50) W 400m – Semi-final
21:20 (19:20) W Javelin – Final
21:35 (19:35) W 200m – Semi-final
22:10 (20:10) M 800m – Final
22:40 (20:40) M 200m – Final

Four titles are to be won, in the men’s pole vault, women’s javelin, men’s 800m and men’s 200m. USA’s defending champion Sam Kendricks will be looking for gold again as he goes up against Poland’s Piotr Lisek and European champion Armand Duplantis of Sweden, with Britain’s Harry Coppell aiming to make the final.

Nijel Amos stormed to the top of the world 800m rankings with his 1:41.89 in Monaco for the fastest time recorded since the London 2012 Olympics. USA’s Donavan Brazier will be another one to watch and British athletes Elliot Giles, Kyle Langford and Jamie Webb will be looking to make the final.

What will Noah Lyles do in Doha? The American clocked 19.50 at the IAAF Diamond League meet in Lausanne and seeks a first senior global title. Also in 200m action in Doha are Britain’s Miguel Francis, Adam Gemili and Zharnel Hughes, with Francis having clocked 19.97 this year and British champion Gemili and European 100m champion Hughes hoping to be back in action after racing the 100m.

Day six – Wednesday October 2

16:35 (14:35) M 100m – Decathlon
16:45 (14:45) W Shot put – Qualification
17:05 (15:05) W 100m hurdles – Heptathlon
17:30 (15:30) M Long jump – Decathlon
17:35 (15:35) W 1500m – Heats
18:00 (16:00) W Discus – Qualification Group A
18:15 (16:15) W High jump – Heptathlon
18:25 (16:25) W 5000m – Heats
18:50 (16:50) M Shot put – Decathlon
19:25 (17:25) W Discus – Qualification Group B
20:05 (18:05) M (110m hurdles – Semi-final
20:30 (18:30) W Shot put – Heptathlon
20:35 (18:35) M 400m Semi-final
20:40 (18:40) M High jump – Decathlon
21:05 (19:05) W 400m hurdles – Semi-Final
21:40 (19:40) M Hammer – Final
21:50 (19:50) W 200m – Heptathlon
22:35 (20:35) W 200m – Final
23:00 (21:00) M 110m hurdles – Final
23:15 (21:15) M 400m – Decathlon

Combined events action gets under way on day six, with both the heptathlon – set to feature a battle between Olympic and defending world champion Nafi Thiam and Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson – and decathlon taking place.

The three finals are the men’s hammer, featuring Poland’s defending champion Pawel Fajdek and Britain’s Commonwealth champion Nick Miller, plus the women’s 200m and men’s 110m hurdles. In the 200m, Elaine Thompson is fastest of the entries after world leader Shaunae Miller-Uibo decided to focus on the 400m. Behind her on the rankings are Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Dina Asher-Smith, who both also contest the 100m. Asher-Smith is joined in racing the 200m in Doha by team-mates Beth Dobbin and Jodie Williams.

Olympic champion Omar McLeod of Jamaica will defend his world 110m hurdles title against entries including Britain’s Andrew Pozzi.

Day seven – Thursday October 3

16:35 (14:35) M 110m hurdles – Decathlon
16:40 (14:40) W Triple jump – Qualification
17:30 (15:30) M Discus – Decathlon Group A
18:15 (16:15) W Long jump – Heptathlon
18:35 (16:35) M Discus – Decathlon Group B
19:05 (17:05) M Pole vault – Decathlon Group A
19:20 (17:20) M Shot put – Qualification Group A
20:05 (18:05) M Pole vault – Decathlon Group B
20:10 (18:10) W Javelin – Heptathlon
20:40 (18:40) M Shot put – Qualification Group B
22:00 (20:00) M 1500m – Heats
22:05 (20:05) M Javelin – Decathlon Group A
22:35 (20:35) W Shot put – Final
23:00 (21:00) W 1500m – Semi-final
23:10 (21:10) M Javelin – Decathlon Group B
23:50 (21:50) W 400m – Final
00:05 (22:05) W 800m – Heptathlon
00:25 (22:25) M 1500m – Decathlon

Day seven will see the conclusion of the heptathlon and decathlon, with two other finals – the women’s shot put and 400m – taking place. Gong Lijiao defends her shot put title and Britain’s Sophie McKinna will hope for another PB performance, while Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo will look for her first world gold after 400m silver and 200m bronze medals. Emily Diamond and Laviai Nielsen race for GB.

While Nafi Thiam and Katarina Johnson-Thompson are set to fight it out in the heptathlon, the decathlon features France’s world record-holder Kevin Mayer and Britain’s Tim Duckworth.

Day eight – Friday October 4

20:05 (18:05) M 1500m – Semi-final
20:15 (18:15) M High jump – Final
20:40 (18:40) W 4x100m relay – Heats
21:00 (19:00) W Discus – Final
21:05 (19:05) M 4x100m relay – Heats
21:30 (19:30) W 400m hurdles – Final
21:45 (19:45) M 3000m steeplechase – Final
22:20 (20:20) M 400m – Final
23:30 (21:30) M 20km race walk – Final

Day eight sees six finals, with the men’s high jump – featuring home favourite Mutaz Essa Barshim – kicking them off. Next up is the women’s discus before the women’s 400m hurdles, where world record-holder Dalilah Muhammad and her US team-mate Sydney McLaughlin, the world under-20 record-holder, will be in the spotlight.

The men’s steeplechase is another open event, with Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali leading the entries with 8:04.82.

Michael Norman goes in quickest in the 400m with 43.45 ahead of his US team-mate Fred Kerley’s 43.64, with Matthew Hudson-Smith and Rabah Yousif racing for GB. The men’s 20km race walk gets under way at 23:30 local time, with GB represented by Tom Bosworth and Callum Wilkinson.

Day nine – Saturday October 5

16:30 (14:30) M Javelin – Qualification Group A
17:15 (15:15) W 100m hurdles – Heats
17:50 (15:50) W Long jump – Qualification
18:00 (16:00) M Javelin throw – Qualification Group B
19:55 (17:55) W 4x400m relay – Heats
20:05 (18:05) M Shot put – Final
20:25 (18:25) M 4x400m relay – Heats
20:35 (18:35) W Triple jump – Final
20:55 (18:55) W 1500m – Final
21:25 (19:25) W 5000m – Final
22:05 (20:05) W 4x100m relay – Final
22:15 (20:15) M 4x100m relay – Final
23:59 (21:59) M Marathon – Final

The penultimate day of action features seven finals, including the men’s shot put, women’s triple jump, women’s 1500m, women’s 5000m, both 4x100m relays and the men’s marathon.

Yulimar Rojas defends her triple jump crown against Olympic champion and two-time world winner Caterine Ibarguen. The women’s 1500m features a few question marks as world leader Sifan Hassan is yet to decide whether she will race the event following the 10,000m and British record-holder Laura Muir is continuing her comeback after injury, while Genzebe Dibaba was a late withdrawal due to plantar fasciitis. Sarah McDonald and Jemma Reekie join Muir on the GB team, while Jessica Judd, Eilish McColgan and Laura Weightman race the 5000m.

The men’s marathon sees defending champion Geoffrey Kirui and Britain’s world fourth-placer Callum Hawkins in action, while the men’s 4x100m squad goes in as defending champions.

Day 10 – Sunday October 6

19:02 (17:02) W 100m hurdles – Semi-final
19:15 (17:15) W Long jump – Final
19:40 (17:40) M 1500m – Final
19:55 (17:55) M Javelin – Final
20:00 (18:00) M 10,000m – Final
20:50 (18:50) W 100m hurdles – Final
21:15 (19:15) W 4x400m relay – Final
21:30 (19:30) M 4x400m relay – Final

The last seven titles to be claimed are in the women’s long jump, men’s 1500m, men’s javelin, men’s 10,000m, women’s 100m hurdles and both the 4x400m relays.

After leaping 7.16m, Germany’s Malaika Mihambo will look to continue her superb season in the long jump, with Abigail Irozuru, Shara Proctor and Jazmin Sawyers all hoping to make the final and USA’s Brittney Reese going for a fifth world outdoor title.

After racing the 5000m, Jakob and Filip Ingebrigtsen are due to take on the 1500m, with Neil Gourley, Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman the entries for GB.

Should all go to plan for them in qualifying, the men’s javelin will see Germany’s Johannes Vetter, Andreas Hofmann and Olympic champion Thomas Rohler competing, while the men’s 10,000m features Uganda’s world cross country champion Joshua Cheptegei and Ethiopia’s two-time world 5000m medallist Hagos Gebrhiwet.

Jamaica’s Danielle Williams and Janeek Brown lead the 100m hurdles entries list with respective times of 12.32 and 12.40, ahead of USA’s world record-holder Kendra Harrison who has clocked 12.43 this year. GB’s Cindy Ofili continues her comeback after injury.

Allyson Felix, who had her first child in November, could win a record-extending 17th world medal as she forms part of the US 4x400m squad.

TV guide

A list of broadcasters per territory can be found here.

Fans in the UK will be able to follow BBC coverage, with the team including Olympic and world champions Michael Johnson, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Denise Lewis and Daley Thompson plus triple jumper Naomi Ogbeta to offer a ‘current athlete’s perspective’.

Details of BBC coverage can be found here.