From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Three South Jersey athletes will be in action at the World Athletics Championships, which begins this week in Budapest, Hungary.

Pleasantville graduate Nia Ali, Florence’s Curtis Thompson and Delsea’s Josh Awotunde will be competing in their specialties at the brand-new National Athletics Centre, located along the eastern bank of the Danube River.

Here’s everything you’ll need to follow along as Ali competes in the 100-meter hurdles, Thompson in the javelin and Awotunde in the shot put.

NIA ALI: Ali is the top seed in the 100-meter hurdles, thanks to her lifetime-best 12.30 in Monaco last month. That’s No. 9 in world history (No. 6 not including performances by Bulgarian and Russian athletes in the late 1980s and early 1990s) and No. 3 ever by an American. Ali, who will be 35 in October, is the top seed, but American record holder Kendra (12.31) and Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (12.31) are both within 1-100th of a second.

Ali won Worlds in 2019 with a 12.34, which was her PR before last month. She’s bidding to become the first double winner since American Michelle Perry in 2005 and 2007.

The meet record is 12.28 in 2011 by Australia’s Sally Pearson, who also won World in 2017 and was 2nd in 2013.

There are three rounds in the high hurdles. Ali races in the trials at 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 22. The semifinals are scheduled for 8:40 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23, with the final at 9:25 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24.

JOSH AWOTUNDE: With his 2nd-place 72-6 ¼ throw at U.S. Nationals, Awotunde qualified for his second straight World Championships. Awotunde has a lifetime best of 73-1 ½ from the last edition of Worlds, when he placed 3rd as part of a U.S. sweep in Eugene last year.

Awotunde is the No. 8 seed at Worlds based on 2023 throws. He’s No. 18 in world history and No. 11 on the all-time U.S. list.

There are two rounds of the men’s shot put and both will be held on Saturday, Aug. 19. The qualifying rounds are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. with the final following at 8:35 p.m.

CURTIS THOMPSON: Thompson, a 2021 Olympian, will also compete at Worlds for the second time. He won his 3rd U.S. title with a dramatic final-throw 265-5. He’s one of only three javelin throwers to win three U.S. titles since 1950.

Thompson placed 11th at 2022 Worlds, the best finish by an American since 2009. His PR 287-8 is No. 3 in U.S. history and is 11th-beset among the 37 competitors who qualified for this year’s Worlds.

Javelin qualifying rounds are scheduled for 10:10 and 11:45 a.m. Friday, Aug. 25. We don’t know yet whether Thompson will be in Group A or Group B. The final is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 27.

Time schedule: Click here.
Complete list of entries by event: Click here.
The complete 769-page World Athletics Championships media guide click here.
TV schedule: TBA
Live results: Click here (presumably)