5 Canadian storylines to follow at 2023 World Athletics Championships

For the past three months, we’ve been chatting around the office about what might happen at the 2023 World Championships. Now, with just a few days left until the kickoff on Aug. 19, Canadian athletes are getting ready to go for gold and glory. Last time, Canada won four medals at the championships–a gold, a silver and a bronze in track events, plus a silver in the hammer throw. So what can we expect from our athletes this year?

Can Damian Warner get redemption?

Damian Warner is one of the most dominant decathletes in history, boasting an Olympic title, a world indoor title and a collection of world championship medals. However, the one accolade missing from his impressive record is world championship gold. Last year in Eugene, Ore., he held a commanding lead in the decathlon until the 400m–the fifth of 10 events spanning two days. During the 400m race, which marked the final event of the first day, Warner pulled his hamstring a mere 100 metres into the race. As a result, he was forced to withdraw.

Warner’s untimely exit created an opportunity for his compatriot and Canadian teammate, Pierce LePage, which LePage capitalized on by achieving personal bests in three events, securing a silver medal behind France’s Kevin Mayer. LePage started 2023 with a bang, winning the esteemed decathlon Hypomeeting held in Götzis, Austria. He also holds the coveted top rank among decathletes, according to World Athletics, outshining both Mayer and Warner.

For the past six years, Mayer has been Warner’s greatest rival. At 31, Mayer boasts a formidable track record as a two-time world champion and two-time Olympic silver medallist. He also stands as the world record holder, with an impressive 9,126 points achieved at the Decastar event in Talence, France, in 2018. Beyond his achievements at the Tokyo Olympics, Mayer has consistently outperformed LePage and Warner, winning gold in two of the last three world championships in this discipline.

The men’s decathlon will take place on Aug. 25 and 26. 

What can we expect from Andre De Grasse in the 200m?

Possibly the most pressing question for every Canadian track and field enthusiast is what we can expect from Andre De Grasse in Budapest. Over the past two seasons, the 28-year-old has grappled with consistency issues, but a glimmer of vintage De Grasse brilliance emerged at the 2023 Canadian Track and Field Championships, where he soared to victory in the men’s 200m in the final 50 metres, clocking a season’s best of 20.01 seconds after narrowly missing the 100m final two nights earlier. After his national title, his winning streak continued with a 200m victory at the Ed Murphey Classic in Memphis, Tenn., which he won in 20.19 seconds.

De Grasse thrives on the big stage and has earned a reputation as a performer who shines brightest when the stakes are high. The men’s 200m lineup at the 2023 World Championships mirrors the field seen at the Tokyo Olympics, where De Grasse claimed gold for Team Canada. Noah Lyles enters the championships as the favourite, holding the world-leading time of 19.47 seconds and maintaining an unbeaten record in the discipline for the past two years. Lyles, the 2019 world champion, was considered the frontrunner heading into the 2020 Olympics but ended up with bronze behind U.S. sprinter Kenny Bednarek and De Grasse–the two sprinters who last beat him.

Drawing insights from De Grasse’s impressive 20.01 performance in Langley, B.C., it’s noteworthy that he also clocked a similar time of 19.97 (+1.2 m/s) in his final 200m race before the Tokyo Olympics. The men’s 200m category is brimming with exceptional talent, yet if De Grasse can navigate the heats and deliver a near-season-best performance in the semi-final, it would be unwise to discount the possibility of witnessing his signature magic in the final.

Preliminary rounds are slated for Aug. 23, with the semi-finals and final on Aug. 24 and Aug. 25.

How far can Savannah Sutherland go?

Savannah Sutherland of Borden, Sask., could very well possess the highest potential among Canadian athletes making their world championship debut in Budapest. The 20-year-old 400m hurdler has had a long, remarkable 2023 season, claiming an NCAA national title in the women’s 400mH amid tough competition and setting a U23 Canadian record of 54.45 seconds. Throughout the season, Sutherland has only suffered a single loss in a 400mH race. With Sydney McLaughlin’s absence at the upcoming world championships, aside from Femke Bol and Dalilah Muhammed, there’s an open opportunity for a newcomer on the women’s hurdles podium.

Despite her relatively limited world championship exposure, Sutherland, a second-year student-athlete at the University of Michigan, demonstrates impressive composure and a fearless racing mindset. Her personal best falls just a tenth of a second behind Sage Watson’s hurdles record of 54.32, a record that could potentially be broken in Budapest, given the elevated level of competition. Keep an eye out for Sutherland to secure a spot in the final.

The heats kick off on Aug. 21, with the semi-finals and final on Aug. 22 and 24.

Will Marco Arop win 800m gold?

Canada’s Marco Arop is currently the fastest men’s 800m runner in the world (he is ranked #1 by World Athletics), and he has consistently demonstrated the ability to achieve times of 1:44 to 1:43 on any given day. Since the Tokyo Olympics, Arop has shifted his racing style, and now takes more control of the two-lap race to ensure a fast and honest outcome. This strategy has proven effective, as he won bronze at last year’s world championships, leading the race until the final 50 metres. He was ultimately passed by Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati and Kenya’s Emmanuel Korir, the 2020 Olympic 800m champion.

The journey to the final of the men’s 800m is always fierce, and Arop’s front-running strategy helps him evade the jostling and pushing within the pack. His biggest challenge has been his closing 100m, but it’s his opening 700m that has shaped him into the world-class 800m runner that he currently is. If he can manage a split of 50-51 seconds on the opening lap and position himself favourably at the bell, he possesses the speed and endurance to hold off the rest of the field (with the possible exception of Korir, who hasn’t raced much in 2023).

The heats of the men’s 800m are on Aug. 22, with the semi-finals and final on Aug. 24 and Aug. 26. 

Could Natasha Wodak be a dark horse in the women’s marathon?

Since transitioning to the marathon in 2020, Vancouver’s Natasha Wodak has consistently delivered stellar performances (aside from her disappointing performance at Boston in 2022). She placed 13th overall in a competitive marathon field at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and further showcased her prowess by shattering the Canadian women’s marathon record with a time of 2:23:12 at the 2022 Berlin Marathon. Often, in world championship races, the marathon unfolds as a strategic contest, rather than a pure test of speed, and this is where Wodak’s strengths come to the forefront. At 41, she proves herself to be a reliable contender, progressively refining her marathon performance through each training cycle. Her approach to the distance is marked by elegance and patience mid-race. During her record-breaking run in Berlin, Wodak negative-split the race, nearly securing a top-10 finish, ultimately finishing 12th.

A similar scenario could unfold in Budapest, as Wodak arrives with an injury-free training buildup following her withdrawal from the 2023 London Marathon due to illness. While the defending champion Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia and bronze medallist Lonah Salpeter return to the field, numerous prominent figures are absent from the marathon, focusing on fall marathon majors. If Wodak maintains her approach, she could certainly secure a top-10 placement in Budapest.

Scheduled for the penultimate day of the 2023 World Championships, the women’s marathon takes place on Saturday, Aug. 26.

The 2023 World Athletics Championships are taking place from August 19-27 at the National Stadium in Budapest, Hungary. All the action will be brought to you by Canadian Running and Asics Canada. Follow us on Twitter on Instagram for all things Team Canada and up-to-date exclusive news and content.