Steve Smythe highlights who could claim the top eight spots in each of the women’s events over the next 10 days

Here are our women’s event predictions for the IAAF World Championships in Doha. Generally, we have gone with the rankings and form book and if a Briton is ranked 20th, we won’t predict a medal even if we have a sneaking suspicion that she might do much better than the rankings suggest.

We list a possible top eight and what we think the winning mark might be.

Click here for our men’s event predictions.

Whether you agree or disagree with our predictions, get vocal on Twitter and Facebook and let us know! 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.

Online day-by-day guide | Final entries list

100m

Defending champion: Tori Bowie (USA) 10.85
Olympic champion: Elaine Thompson (JAM) 10.71
The last two Olympic champions Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson are joint top in the rankings with 10.73 and should battle out for the gold medal. The battle for bronze should see European champion Dina Asher-Smith to the fore.
Prediction: 1 E Thompson (JAM); 2 S Fraser-Pryce (JAM); 3 Asher-Smith (GBR); 4 M Ta Lou (CIV); 5 T Bowie (USA); 6 M Kambundji (SUI); 7 D Schippers (NED); 8 T Daniels (USA). Winning mark: 10.75

200m

Defending champion: Dafne Schippers (NED) 22.05
Olympic champion: Elaine Thompson (JAM) 21.78
If she can replicate her 2015 or 2016 form then Olympic champion Elaine Thompson is the favourite but based on 2019 form, and the absence of Shaunae Miller-Uibo, then Asher-Smith looks to hold the edge. Blessing Okagbare would be a factor on her 22.05 Stanford form but the double world champion Dafne Schippers looks well short of her 2015 and 2017 form.
Prediction: 1 E Thompson (JAM); 2 D Asher-Smith (GBR); 3 A Annelus (USA); 4 M Kambundji (SUI); 5 D Schippers (NED); 6 B Okagbare (NGR); 7 A Fraser-Pryce (JAM); 8 M Ta Lou (CIV). Winning mark: 21.90

400m

Defending champion: Phyllis Francis (USA) 49.92
Olympic champion: Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) 49.44
Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo would be a huge favourite at 200m if the programme allowed it but she is even more clear cut at 400m though she will be keen to make up for her inexplicable fourth at London. Salwa Eid Nasser is an equally obvious second. Shericka Jackson should match her Olympic third and shock 2017 winner Phyllis Francis does not look a likely medallist this time.
Prediction: 1 S Miller-Uibo (BAH); 2 S Eid Nasser (BRN); 3 S Jackson (JAM); 4 S Wimbley (USA); 5 S McPherson (JAM); 6 P Francis (USA); 7 K Ellis (USA); 8 W Jonathas (USA). Winning mark: 48.65

800m

Defending champion: Caster Semenya (RSA) 1:55.16
Olympic champion: Caster Semenya (RSA) 1:55.28
With world no.1 Caster Semenya absent there will be a new champion and 2017 bronze medallist Ajee’ Wilson is a clear favourite. The other medals look open but there could be an US clean sweep with Americans Hanna Green and Raevyn Rogers also in good form. 2013 champion Eunice Sum could be close to a medal again as could the three British runners.
Prediction: 1 A Wilson (USA); 2 H Green (USA); 3 N Goule (JAM); 4 E Sum (KEN); 5 L Sharp (GBR); 6 R Rogers (USA); 7 S Oskan-Clarke (GBR); 8 C Bisset (AUS) Winning mark: 1:56.65

1500m

Defending champion: Faith Kipyegon (KEN) 4:02.59
Olympic champion: Faith Kipyegon (KEN) 4:08.92
Should she run this instead of the 5000m, then world mile record-holder Sifan Hassan would be favourite but defending world and Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon has the best competitive record. European champion Laura Muir would have a good chance of being their equal if she was fully fit but she has not raced for 10 weeks and since her London victory.
Prediction: 1 F Kipyegon (KEN); 2 S Hassan (NED); 3 G Tsegay (ETH); 4 L Muir (GBR); 5 S Houlihan (USA); 6 J Simpson (USA); 7 R Arrafi (MAR); 8 W Chebet (KEN). Winning mark: 4:08.98

5000m

Defending champion: Hellen Obiri (KEN) 14:34.86
Olympic champion: Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) 14:26.17
Sifan Hassan might run this and if she does, again a Kenyan will probably give her biggest challenge. Defending champion Hellen Obiri stands in her way and has experience of outkicking the Dutch athlete, though might have the 10,000m in her legs for the first time. Konstanze Klosterhalfen is also entered for both and would appear to have a much better chance in this event.
Prediction: 1 H Obiri (KEN); 2 K Klosterhalfen (GER); 3 L Gidey (ETH); 4 M Kipkemboi (KEN); 5 H Feysa (ETH); 6 L Weightman (GBR); 7 E McColgan (GBR): 8 T Worku (ETH). Winning mark: 14:48.65

10,000m

Defending champion: Almaz Ayana (ETH) 30:16.32
Olympic champion: Almaz Ayana (ETH) 29:17.45
While she is only ranked ninth of those entered and it’s only her third best event, Sifan Hassan is almost certain to run her first major 25-lap race and her biggest danger could be another big race debutante, Hellen Obiri. The Ethiopian trio Letesenbet Gidey, Netsanet Gudeta and Senbere Teferi top the world rankings though and could follow the two bigger names home.
Prediction: 1 S Hassan (NED); 2 H Obiri (KEN); 3 L Gidey (ETH); 4 S Teferi (ETH); 5 N Gudeta (ETH); 6 M Huddle (USA); 7 R Wanjiru (KEN); 8 A Tirop (KEN). Winning mark: 31:06.54

Marathon

Defending champion: Rose Chelimo (BRN) 2:27:11
Olympic champion: Jemima Sumgong (KEN) 2:24:04
The third fastest marathoner in history Ruth Chepngetich can also boast fast times at half-marathon and is the obvious favourite though the heat may be of a factor than form. Israel’s European 10,000m champion Lonah Salpeter and Ethiopian Ruth Aga look likely medallists. It looks unlikely that Edna Kiplagat, who is chasing her fifth successive medal, or defending champion Rose Chelimo will be at their best.
Prediction: 1 R Chepngetich (KEN); 2 L Salpeter (ISR); 3 R Aga (ETH); 4 S Demise (ETH); 5 R Dereje (ETH); 6 O Mazuronak (BLR); 7 S Eshaye (BRN); 8 E Kiplagat (KEN). Winning mark: 2:30:45

3000m steeplechase

Defending champion: Emma Coburn (USA) 9:02.58
Olympic champion: Ruth Jebet (BRN) 8:59.75
World record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech was only fourth in the last two global championships but she has looked a class apart the last two seasons. There should be a close race for second with the two past champions Hyvin Jepkemoi and Emma Coburn and world junior champion Celiphine Chespol and European champion Gesa-Felicitas Krause all in with a shout.
Prediction: 1 B Chepkoech (KEN); 2 E Coburn (USA); 3 G Krause (GER); 4 H Jepkemoi (KEN); 5 C Chespol (KEN); 6 C Frerichs (USA); 7 W Yavi (BRN); 8 C Quigley (USA). Winning mark: 8:55.55

100m hurdles

Defending champion: Sally Pearson (AUS) 12.59
Olympic champion: Brianna McNeal (USA) 12.48
The 2015 world champion Danielle Williams is at a much higher level than she was four years ago and is a clear favourite. World record-holder Kendra Harrison and fellow Americans Nia Ali and Brianna McNeal should be her nearest challengers.
Prediction: 1 D Williams (USA); 2 K Harrison (USA); 3 N Ali (USA); 4 B McNeal (USA); 5 J Brown (JAM); 6 T Amusan NGR); 7 E German (BLR); 8 C Roleder (GER). Winning mark: 12.31

400m hurdles

Defending champion: Kori Carter (USA) 53.07
Olympic champion: Dalilah Muhammad (USA) 53.13
The Olympic champion and world record-holder Dalilah Muhammad might have a hard battle against the multi-talented world junior record-holder Sydney McLaughlin, who is expected to eventually inherit the record. Olympic bronze medallist Ashley Spencer looks a clear third on form and it should be a US sweep of the medals though defending champion Kori Carter is unlikely to be a factor.
Prediction: 1 Sydney McLaughlin (USA); 2 Dalilah Muhammad (USA); A Spencer (USA); 4 Z Hejnova (CZE); 5 R Clayton (JAM); 6 L Sprunger (SUI); 7 S Carter (USA); 8 A Ryzhykova (UKR). Winning mark: 52.40

High jump

Defending champion: Mariya Lasitskene (RUS) 2.03m
Olympic champion: Ruth Beitia (ESP) 1.97m
Though she suffered a rare loss in The Match, Mariya Lasitskene has a huge advantage over her competitors and should comfortably defend her title. Her conqueror in Minsk, Yulia Levchenko, could match her 2017 second. The other three 2.00m jumpers this year – Vashti Cunningham, Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Karina Demidik – could dispute the bronze.
Prediction: 1 M Lasitskene (ANA); 2 Y Levchenko (UKR); 3 V Cunningham (USA); 4 K Demidik (BLR); 5 Y Mahuchikh (UKR); 6 A Palsyte (LTU); 7 M Demireva (BUL); 8 I Herashchenko (UKR). Winning mark: 2.03m

Pole vault

Defending champion: Katerina Stefanidi (GRE) 4.91m
Olympic champion: Katerina Stefanidi (GRE) 4.85m
World and European champion Katerina Stefanidi has not been as dominant in 2019 but has the best competitive record by far.
Jenn Suhr, Anzhelika Sidorova and Sandi Morris are the athletes in form, however. Katie Nageotte, Alysha Newman and Holly Bradshaw are other possible medallists.
Prediction: 1 A Sidorova (ANA); 2 S Morris (USA); 3 E Stefanidi (GRE); 4 J Suhr (USA); 5 A Newman (CAN); 6 H Bradshaw (GBR); 7 Y Silva (CUB); 8 K Nageotte (USA). Winning mark: 4.80m

Long jump

Defending champion: Brittney Reese (USA) 7.02m
Olympic champion: Tianna Bartoletti (USA) 7.17m
European champion Malaika Mihambo stands out as the clear favourite. Defending champion Brittney Reese is a great competitor and could be her biggest challenger.
Prediction: 1 M Mihambo (GER); 2 B Reese (USA); 3 A Mironchik-Ivanova (BLR); 4 E Brume (NGR); 5 C Ibarguen (COL); 6 A Rotaru (ROM); 7 M Bekh-Romanchuk (UKR). Winning mark: 7.45m

Triple jump

Defending champion: Yulimar Rojas (VEN) 14.91m
Olympic champion: Caterine Ibarguen (COL) 15.17m
Defending champion Yulimar Rojas, a possible world record-setter, is favourite but will have to see off the challenge of three-time global winner Caterine Ibarguen, with Shanieka Ricketts also a medal threat.
Prediction: 1 Y Rojas (VEN); 2 C Ibarguen (COL); 3 S Ricketts (JAM); 4 K Orji (USA); 5 L Povea (CUB); 6 K Williams (JAM); 7 O Saladukha (UKR); 8 A Peleteiro (ESP). Winning mark: 15.50m

Shot

Defending champion: Gong Lijiao (CHN) 19.94m
Olympic champion: Michelle Carter (USA) 20.63m
Gong Lijiao is the only 20-metre thrower this year and the defending champion chases her ninth successive top four slot in a global outdoor championship since 2008. The 2015 champion Christina Schwanitz and American Chase Ealey could be her biggest opponents.
Prediction: 1 Gong Lijiao (CHN); 2 C Schanwitz (GER); 3 C Ealey (USA); 4 D Thomas-Dodd (JAM); 5 M Carter (USA); 6 F Roos (SWE); 7 P Guba (POL); 8 A Marton (HUN). Winning mark: 19.98m

Discus

Defending champion: Sandra Perkovic (CRO) 70.31m
Olympic champion: Sandra Perkovic (CRO) 69.21m
Sandra Perkovic is trying to win her eighth global title though so far in 2019 has struggled against the Cuban pair of Yaime Perez and Denia Caballero. These three look way ahead of the rest.
Prediction: 1 S Perkovic (CRO); 2 D Caballero (CUB); 3 Y Perez (CUB); 4 Feng Bin (CHN); 5 V Allman (USA); 6 C Vita (GER); 7 Chen Yang (CHN); 8 N Muller (GER). Winning mark: 69.84m

Hammer

Defending champion: Anita Wlodarczyk (POL) 77.90m
Olympic champion: Anita Wlodarczyk (POL) 76.63m
With the defending champion absent, this looks more open than normal. The Americans dominate the rankings with the top three placings but the trio do not have a top eight global place between them. The other medallists from London, Wang Zheng and Malwina Kopron, could also be a factor
Prediction: 1 D Price (USA); 2 Wang Zheng (CHN); 3 G Berry (USA); 4 M Kopron (POL); 5 A Tavernier (FRA); 6 J Fiodorow (POL); 7 B Andersen (USA); 8 H Malyshik (BLR). Winning mark: 75.98m

Javelin

Defending champion: Barbora Spotakova (CZE) 66.76m
Olympic champion: Sara Kolak (CRO) 66.18m
China’s Lu Huihui goes for her third successive medal and has been the best so far in 2019 but there is little between her, Kelsey-Lee Barber, Tatyana Kholodovich and Nikola Ogrodnikova on their best marks. Olympic winner Sara Kolak and European champion Christin Hussong are other potential winners.
Prediction: 1 Lu Huihui (CHN); 2 S Kolak (CRO); 3 C Hussong (GER); 4 K Barber (AUS); 5 T Kholodovich (BLR); 6 N Ogrodnikova (CZE); 7 B Spotakova (CZE); 8 Liu Shiying (CHN). Winning mark: 68.20m

Heptathlon

Defending champion: Nafissatou Thiam (BEL) 6784
Olympic champion: Nafissatou Thiam (BEL) 6810
Only six points cover the top two in the rankings but Olympic and defending champion Nafissatou Thiam should have a huge advantage in the throws and will benefit from her improved long jump which saw her win in London in the individual event. Katarina Johnson-Thompson has the ability to beat Thiam if not at her best and should be a clear second if she competes to form and makes no glaring errors. American Erica Bougard should improve on her lowly 18th in 2017.
Prediction: 1 N Thiam (BEL); 2 K Johnson-Thompson (GBR); 3 E Bougard (USA); 4 K Williams (USA); 5 A Vetter (NED); 6 X Krizsan (HUN); 7 V Preiner (AUT); 8 I Dadic (AUT). Winning mark: 7018

20km walk

Defending champion: Yang Jiayu (CHN) 1:26:18
Olympic champion: Liu Hong (CHN) 1:38:35
Ecuador’s teenager Glenda Morejon tops the rankings but the Chinese, headed by the world and Olympic champions Yang Jiayu and Liu Hong, will start as favourites.
Prediction: 1 Liu Hong (CHN); 2 Yang Jiayu (CHN); 3 G Morejon (ECU); 4 Qieyang Shenjie (CHN); 5 A Palmisano (ITA); 6 Yang Liujing (CHN); 7 S Arenas (COL); 8 E de Sena (BRA). Winning mark: 1:28:50

50km walk

Defending champion: Ines Henriques (POR) 4:05:56
Defending and European champion Ines Henriques has a hard task to keep her winning run going in the new event, though the two fastest of 2019 are absent. The quickest remaining, Li Maocuo, has yet to win a major race but new European record-holder Elenora Giorgi looks a likely winner.
Prediction: 1 E Giorgi (ITA); 2 J Takacs (ESP); 3 I Henriques (POR); 4 Li Maocuo (CHN); 5 Ma Faying (CHN); 6 Liang Rui (CHN); 7 V Myronchuk (BLR); 8 P Perez (ECU). Winning mark: 4:10:23

4x100m

Defending champion: USA 41.82
Olympic champion: USA 41.01
USA are the reigning champions but Jamaica look to have the most firepower. Britain will certainly be a factor if Dina Asher-Smith is at her best still but it is Germany who easily top the world rankings but only been fourth or fifth in the last five global events.
Prediction: 1 JAM; 2 USA; 3 GER; 4 GBR; 5 CHN; 6 NED; 7 SUI; 8 FRA). Winning mark: 41.45

4x400m

Defending champion: USA 3:19.02
Olympic champion: USA 3:19.06
This again should be a straight shoot-out between Jamaica and USA with the Americans favourites. European champions Poland look a clear bet for third.
Prediction: 1 JAM; 2 USA; 3 Pol; 4 GBR; 5 CAN; 6 ITA; 7 FRA; 8 NGR). Winning mark: 3:19.45

Mixed 4x400m

This inaugural event is difficult to predict, with few countries having used their best athletes. It comes before the individual events and clashes with the 400m hurdles.
Prediction: 1 USA; 2 POL; 3 GER; 4 JAM; 5 GBR; 6 CAN; 7 UKR; 8 FRA. Winning mark: 3:12.45