How to Watch the 2019 World Championships – runnersworld.com

By Staff 5 years ago

How to Watch the 2019 World Championships  runnersworld.com

16th IAAF World Athletics Championships London 2017 - Day Eight

Ian MacNicolGetty Images

  • On Friday, September 27, the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, kick off with heats of the men’s 100 meters, women’s 800 meters, women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, and men’s 5,000 meters, as well as the women’s marathon.
  • View the full world championships schedule here.

While the four-year wait between Olympic Games can drag on, running fans get a dose of global competition every other year: the IAAF World Championships. This year, the 10-day event is taking place in Doha, Qatar, from September 27 through October 6.

Here’s how to follow along wherever you are:

What: The

Why You Should Watch: It’s the best track & field competition the world has to offer outside of the Olympic Games.

When: Races and field events kick off on September 27 and run through October 6. The schedule of events can be found .

Where: On September 27, is airing the track events from 9:30 to 2 p.m. EST and the women’s marathon from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. EST. Additionally, the Olympic Channel will be broadcasting from 5 to 8 p.m. You can also stream the events on (requires a $69.99 subscription). You can find the full broadcast coverage schedule .

This year’s meet is unique because it’s the first time a Middle Eastern city has hosted the event. (Eugene, Oregon, and Barcelona were also considered as venues.) It also might be one of the hottest world championships. In early October, Doha is predicted to have lows in the upper 70s and highs in the upper 90s, with fluctuating humidity levels making those temperatures feel even hotter. To reduce the likelihood of heat stroke or exhaustion, all of the events are scheduled to start after 4 p.m. Doha time (9 a.m. EST), with some events much later—including the marathon, which kicks off at midnight on September 27.

To help cool athletes and spectators, air conditioning units have been installed inside the stadium, which features a brand-new, bubble-gum pink track. Athletes competing in events 1500 meters and longer will also be asked to ingest a thermometer pill that tracks their internal temperatures, with the hope that this data can help prepare race organizers, athletes, and coaches for the hot conditions expected at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

[Smash your goals with a Runner’s World Training Plan, designed for any speed and any distance.]

Temperature aside, there are some fiery races to look forward to this year, minus a few noteworthy names: 100-meter world record holder Usain Bolt of Jamaica, six-time world champion Mo Farah of Great Britain, and two-time Olympic 800 gold medalist Caster Semenya of South Africa will not be competing.

Team USA Favorites

Races to Watch on Day 1:

• American Christian Coleman appears in the heats of the 100 meters. He was second in the 100 at the 2017 world championships and won the event at USAs this year.

• Three-time national champion Ajee’ Wilson will be racing in the first round of the women’s 800 meters.

• In the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, Americans Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs, who went 1–2 at Worlds in 2017, begin the defense of their titles.

• Paul Chelimo, Ben True, and Hassan Mead try to advance to the finals of the men’s 5,000 meters.

• The women’s marathon starts at midnight local time. Kelsey Bruce, Carrie Dimoff, and Roberta Groner are the American entries.

Digital Editor Hailey first got hooked on running news as an intern with Running Times, and now she reports on elite runners and cyclists, feel-good stories, and training pieces for Runner’s World and Bicycling magazines.