Athletics: Zoe Hobbs narrowly misses out on 100m final at world champs

New Zealand sprinter Zoe Hobbs says she was in the form of her life so was disappointed at missing a place in the World Athletics Championships 100m final by fractions of a second.

Hobbs finished fifth in her semi-final in 11.09 seconds, 12th fastest - not enough to qualify for the eight-woman final.

The 28-year-old, whose personal best is 10.94sec, said she had her heart set on reaching the final and believed she was in the form to do so.

"It's a little bit disappointing because training all week, I had two sessions where I'd done PBs and two sessions that I would do every single week," Hobbs said.

"I'm in the best form that I ever have been and my body has been feeling - up until this point - really good. So I felt like I was more than capable of making the final. It's just about putting it together on the day."

It mirrored the disappointment Hobbs felt at last year's Paris Olympics, when she placed sixth in her semi-final and didn't advance.

Hobbs couldn't explain why she couldn't hit her best form when it counted in Tokyo.

"I need to look back on how I executed the race. Today I wanted to get a better start because yesterday [in the heats] it felt like the start was the part that needed fixing up a little bit.

"There wasn't anything that glared out to me that was bad about the race.

"It's been a super-long year. Starting the year in December is quite unique for us, coming all the way from New Zealand, having two outdoor seasons.

"It's kind of been non-stop since the start of the year. So I'm just proud of backing it up race after race and being super-focused all the way through to this world champs. I now get a bit of a mental break and reset for next year."

Kerr advances

Elsewhere, New Zealand Olympic high jump champion Hamish Kerr got a bugbear off his back by qualifying for his men's final.

Kerr cleared 2.25m to advance to Tuesday night's final, a breakthrough after failing to advance through the qualifying rounds at each of his last three world championship appearances.

The 29-year-old wanted to preserve energy ahead of the final after enduring a long qualifying session in blazing heat.

"Qualifying rounds and me, we've got a patchy history, so to have that all done, in the rearview mirror, is a super relief," Kerr said.

"Thirty-two degrees and we're out there for two-and-a-half hours - it's always tough."

Among the 13 finalists is 2025 world leader Oleh Doroshchuk of Ukraine and world indoor champion Sanghyeok Woo of South Korea.

Elsewhere among New Zealand's contingent, Sam Tanner was 10th in his 1500m heat in 3min 43.73sec while Lauren Bruce threw 69.19m in the second round of women's hammer qualifying. Both failed to advance further.

In action on Monday night, George Beamish will contest the men's 3000m steeplechase final while Olivia McTaggart, Eliza McCartney and Imogen Ayris line up for the women's pole vault qualifying.

Jefferson-Wooden wins women's 100m

American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden capped a dominant season in some style by winning the women's 100m final in 10.61sec, the fastest time ever run at a world championships.

Tina Clayton confirmed her place at the front of a new generation of Jamaican sprinters by taking silver in a personal best time of 10.76sec, while bronze went to Olympic champion Julien Alfred in 10.84sec.

The race had been billed as a showdown between Jefferson-Wooden and Alfred but the American flew out of the blocks and established a lead she would never relinquish by the 50-metre mark.

She steamed home to claim her first global title and reaffirm her brilliant form in a season where she has never been beaten over 100m, nor clocked a time above 11 seconds.

"It has been an amazing year. I have been dreaming of this moment. Instead of putting the pressure on myself and taking it as something overwhelming, I was just embracing it," Jefferson-Wooden said.

"When the gun went off, I just thought 'Come on, get out strong'. The rest of the race went like a blink of an eye. When I crossed the line I was like 'Oh wow, I won'. I haven't felt happier.

"I am excited about the 200 metres now but I am really happy about this 100 gold."

Men's 100m final

Oblique Seville scorched to the men's 100m gold in a personal best 9.77sec, leading a Jamaican 1-2 ahead of Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson, second again in 9.82.

Defending champion Noah Lyles took bronze in a season's best 9.89 as the United States failed to take the title for the first time since 2015, when Usain Bolt won the last of his titles.

The sport's biggest superstar was in the stands in Tokyo - the first time since he retired in 2017 - to roar home his compatriots, though he had predicted a Thompson victory earlier in the day.

Seville had looked the man to beat through the rounds in last year's Olympics but finished last in the final. This year he almost had a disaster in the heats, recovering from a dire start, but was back to full sharpness in the semis on a humid Sunday evening.

He got another flier in the final and had clear air around him when he crossed the line.

Thompson, beaten by five thousandths of a second by Lyles in the Olympic final, had to settle for silver again, having come to Tokyo with the fastest time by anyone for 10 years - 9.75.

Seville's 9.77 takes him into a share of 10th on the all-time list.

"It's an excellent feeling," he said.

"The last time a Jamaican got a world gold was in 2016 (Rio Olympics) and that was Usain Bolt so I am really happy knowing that I actually got the gold medal and I have proved myself that I am a true competitor and I showed my resilience and my fight and determination.

"It is a tremendous feeling. I know my talent and trust in myself. Last year I was injured for the final so this time I've proved myself."

Shock gold

Frenchman Jimmy Gressier produced a brilliant late kick to win a shock gold medal in the men's 10,000m, becoming the first man born outside East Africa to win the distance title since 1983.

The 28-year-old had bided his time in the pack in a race slowed by the stifling conditions and timed his run to the line to perfection, claiming his first global title in 28 minutes, 55.77 seconds.

"This is a child's dream come true," said Gressier. "I always believed that an athlete, once he steps on the track, can achieve great things.

"This is what has characterised my career. Some may have doubted my finish, but I always believed in myself. I said I would run here for a medal."

Gressier, who at one stage considered switching to steeplechase so frustrated was he with his lack of global success in flat distance running, said Olympic 5,000m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen had given him some helpful advice.

- RNZ / Reuters