LONDON — More than 1,900 athletes from 209 countries will be in action at this month's World Athletics Championships, with American sprinter Allyson Felix looking to extend her record medals tally in Doha.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) confirmed 1,928 entries in a provisional list released on Thursday for the event, which runs from Sept. 27 to Oct. 6.
All 30 of the Diamond League champions have confirmed participation, while 38 individual winners from the London championships two years ago will defend their titles in Doha.
Felix, the world championships' most decorated athlete, with 16 medals, was named in the US team for the ninth consecutive time and will feature in the 4x400m relay squad.
Men's 100m favorite Christian Coleman and reigning world champion Justin Gatlin were also selected in a 143-member US team.
Spain's Jesus Angel Garcia, 49, will extend his own record number of appearances at the championships to 13 when he takes to the starting line for the 50km race walk on Sept. 28.
The 1993 world champion will also become the oldest participant to take part in the championships.
Ethiopia’s Dibaba out of
worlds with foot injury
Ethiopia’s 1,500 meters world record holder and 2015 world champion Genzebe Dibaba has withdrawn from the world championships starting in Doha next week due to a foot injury, her management company said on Thursday.
The Ethiopian, who set a new 1500m world record in 2015 of 3:50.07 before clinching the world title in Beijing, was diagnosed with a partial rupture in her right foot after the Zurich Diamond League meeting in August, Pineda Sport said in a statement.
The 28-year-old, who won silver at the 2016 Rio Games, is the younger sister of triple Olympic gold medalist Tirunesh.
Her withdrawal leaves Kenya’s defending champion and Olympic gold medalist Faith Kipyegon and Ethiopian-born Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan, who broke the world mile record (4:12.33) in July, as favorites for the title.
In another blow to the blue riband race at the global competition, Kenya’s 1,500m defending champion Elijah Manangoi announced earlier this week that he would not be defending his title due to injury. — Reuters
