This is our 43rd day of previews of the 2023 World Outdoor Athletics Championships, in Budapest, Hungary, from August 19-27, 2023. I found my hotel, which costs 1/3 of the price that we were charged in Eugene, Oregon, last year! Great airfares to Budapest (Lufthansa, Swiss Air, TAP, and Air Baltic are all good). You need to be there!
We have 2 more days of previews in our 45-day preview series of Budapest sponsored by the LOC in Budapest!
Today, I am writing about five athletes from the African continent who should shake it up in Budapest!
- Soufiane El Bakkali. Morocco. Steeplechase. The Olympic and World Champion just ran his PB and NR of 7:56.68. The Morrocan star is ready to roll, and can he keep it going well until August, when he races in Budapest?
- Wayde Van Niekerk. South Africa. 400 meters. The World record holder at 400 meters, Olympic champion, and World Champion is back. Wayde has run 44.11 so far this season. The South African is in incredible shape and will be incredible in Budapest.
- Tobi Amusan. Nigeria. The World record holder in the 100m hurdles has had a slow opening to 2023, but Tobi has true faith in herself. Watch this star battle the very best in Budapest in August.
- Akani Simbine. South Africa. Akani has shaken it up once again. The South African just defeated Ferdinand Omanyala in Rabat. What will he do in South Africa?
- Mezan Alem. Ethiopia. The U20 champion at 5,000 meters made a huge statement on the Night of 10,000m PBs on May 20, with her 29:59.03, running by herself for the last 5,000 plus meters. How will she battle Sifan Hassan? We will just have to wait and see!
To read all of our earlier stories in Witness the Wonder, numbers 1-43:
1. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 1; Welcome to the World Champs! https://runblogrun.com/2023/04/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-1-welcome-to-the-world-champs.html
2. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 2, Meeting the Stars of Hungarian Athletics! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/04/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-2-meeting-the-stars-of-hungarian-athletics.html\
3. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 3, Why you should go to Budapest! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/04/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-3.html
4. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 4, Mondo Duplantis & Nafi Thiam are Europe’s finest; how will they do in Budapest? https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/04/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-3-mondo-duplantis-nafi-thiam-are-europes-finest-how-will-they-do-in-budapest.html
5. Witness the Wonder, World Championships Budapest 2023, Day 5, Just What Will Faith Kipyegon Do in Budapest? https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/04/witness-the-wonder-world-championships-budapest-2023-day-5-just-what-will-faith-kipyegon-do-in-budapest.html
6. Witness the Wonder, World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 6, Mutaz Essa Barshim. Will he take a 4th straight title in Budapest? https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/04/witness-the-wonder-world-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-mutaz-essa-barshim-will-he-take-a-4th-straight-title-in-budapest.html
7. Witness the Wonder, World Athletics Outdoor Champs Budapest 2023, Day 7; Noah Lyles wants to burn up the track in Budapest in August! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/04/witness-the-wonder-world-athletics-outdoor-champs-budapest-2023-noah-lyles-wants-to-burn-up-the-track-in-budapest-in-august.html
8. Witness the Wonder, World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 8, all About the National Athletics Center https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/04/witness-the-wonder-world-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-8-all-about-the-national-athletics-center.html
9. Witness the Wonder, World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 9: Meet Anita Marton, Hungarian star shot putter with deadly last-round throws! What will she do in Budapest? https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/04/witness-the-wonder-world-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-9-meet-anita-marton-hungarian-star-shot-putter-who-has-deadly-last-round-throws-what-will-she-do-in-budapest.html
10. Witness the Wonder, 2023 World Athletics Outdoor Championships, Day 10: Karsten Warholm is back; what will he do in Budapest over the 400-meter hurdles? https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/04/witness-the-wonder-2023-world-athletics-outdoor-championships-day-10-karsten-warhold-is-back-what-will-he-do-in-budapest-over-the-400-meter-hurdles.html
11. Witness the Wonder World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 11; Wayde Van Niekerk is coming to Budapest! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/04/witness-the-wonder-world-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-11-wayde-van-niekerk-wr-holder-olympic-champions-two-time-world-champion-at-400-meters-has-returned-and-he-wants-to-run-a-sizz.html
12. Witness the Wonder, World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 12, Neeraj Chopra, India’s Javelin star, will he move up to gold in Budapest? https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/04/witness-the-wonder-world-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-neeraj-chopra-indias-javelin-star-will-he-move-up-to-gold-in-budapest.html,
13. Witness the Wonder, World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 13: Ryan Crouser overcomes a rainy day at the Drake Relays! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/04/witness-the-wonder-world-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-13-ryan-crouser-overcomes-a-rainy-day-at-the-drake-relays.html
14. Witness the Wonder, World Athletics Outdoor Championships, Budapest, Day 14: Five Reasons to Go to the World Championships in Budapest! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-athletics-outdoor-championships-budapest-day-14-five-reasons-to-go-to-the-world-championships-in-budapest.html
15. Witness the Wonder, World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 15, Old and New Stars in Hammer could shine the first weekend of World Champs for Hungary! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-old-and-new-stars-in-hammer-could-shine-first-weekend-of-world-champs-for-hungary.html
16. Witness the Wonder, World Athletics Championships, Budapest 2023, Day 16: Five Ways to Better Enjoy the Budapest World Champs! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-15-five-ways-to-better-enjoy-the-budapest-world-champs.html
17. Witness the Wonder, World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 17; Ferdinand Omanyala wants to be on the 100m medal podium this summer! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-17-ferdinand-omanyala-wants-to-be-on-the-100m-medal-podium-this-summer.html
18. Witness the Wonder, World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 18: What will Sifan Hassan do in Budapest? https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-18-what-will-sifan-hassan-do-in-budapest.html
19. Witness the Wonder World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 19; Tomas Walsh is from New Zealand, and you better watch him in the Men’s Shot Put final in Budapest! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-19-tomas-walsh-is-from-new-zealand-and-you-better-watch-him-in-the-mens-shot-put-final-in-budapest.html
20. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 20; Grant Holloway wants to Three-Peat in Budapest! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-20-grant-holloway-wants-to-three-peat-in-budapest.html
21. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Budapest 2023, Day 21, Five Big Stories for the World Champs in Budapest! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-budapest-2023-day-21-five-big-stories-for-the-world-champs-in-budapest.html
22. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Budapest 2023, Day 22, Six Stories on Hungarian Athletes and their Dreams for Budapest 2023! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-budapest-2023-day-22-six-stories-on-hungarian-athletes-and-their-dreams-for-budapest-2023.html
23. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships, Budapest 2023, Day 23: Femke Bol What Will She do in Budapest? https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-23-femke-bol-what-will-she-do-in-budapest.html
24. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Budapest 2023, Day 24, What Plans Does Joshua Cheptegai Have for Budapest? https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-budapest-2023-day-24-what-plans-does-joshua-cheptegai-have-for-budapest.html
25. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Budapest 2023, Day 25, LiJao Gong will again battle for the gold, this time in Budapest! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-budapest-2023-day-25-lijao-gong-will-battle-for-the-gold-once-again-this-time-in-budapest.html
26. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 26, Sha’Carri Richardson is running towards Budapest! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-26-shacarri-richardson-is-running-towards-budapest.html
27. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 27, What you need to know about Budapest! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-27-what-you-need-to-know-about-budapest.html
28. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 28: Budapest, where everything is within easy reach! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-28-budapest-where-everything-is-within-easy-reach.html
29. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 29: Dina Asher-Smith focuses on Budapest https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-29-dina-asher-smith-focuses-on-budapest.html
30. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 30: Mary Moraa dreams of a podium finish in Budapest! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-30.html
31. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 31: Fred Kerley has some decisions to make before Budapest! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-31-fred-kerley-has-some-decisions-to-make-before-budapest.html
32. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Budapest 2023, Day 32: What we will find on Day One at Budapest 2023! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-budapest-2023-day-32-what-we-will-find-in-session-one-day-one-at-budapest-2023.html
33. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Budapest 2023, Day 33: Who will be the stars in Budapest? Seven Deep thoughts! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-budapest-2023-day-33-who-will-be-the-stars-in-budapest-seven-deep-thoughts.html
34. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 34, Who Could Set World Records in Budapest? Five Deep Thoughts. https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-34-who-could-set-world-records-in-budapest-five-deep-thoughts.html
35. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 35: Here are Five European Athletes Who Can Medal in Budapest! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-35-heres-five-athletes-who-can-medal-in-budapest.html
36. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 36: Five African athletes can med medal in Budapest! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-36-heres-five-african-athletes-who-can-medal-in-budapest-this-coming-august.html
37. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Budapest 2023, Day 37: Here are five Asian Athletes Who should medal in Budapest! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-budapest-2023-day-37-heres-five-asian-athletes-who-should-medal-in-budapest.html
38 Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Budapest 2023, Day 38: Five athletes from the U.S. who should be on the podium in Budapest! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-budapest-2023-day-38-five-athletes-from-u-s-who-could-be-on-the-podium.html ,
39. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships, Budapest 2023, Day 39, How to enjoy Day 2 of Budapest World Champs! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-39-how-to-enjoy-day-2-budapest.html
40. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 40: Five Deep Thoughts about the World Champs in Budapest! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-40-five-deep-thoughts-about-the-world-champs-in-budapest.html
41. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 41: Five Reasons to visit Budapest for the World Champs! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-41-five-reasons-to-visit-budapest-for-the-world-champs.html
42. Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships, Budapest 2023, Day 42: Here are five European athletes who could star in Budapest! https://www.runblogrun.com/2023/05/witness-the-wonder-world-outdoor-athletics-championships-budapest-2023-day-42-heres-five-european-athletes-who-could-star-in-budapest.html
The World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, will be held August 19-27, 2023, and tickets are available now! Click here to learn more about ticket sales: https://tickets.wabudapest23.com/
RunBlogRun suggests a wonderful book on Hungary, The Hungarians, A Thousand Years of Victory in Defeat, by Paul Lendvai, Translated by Ann Major, Princeton University Press, www.pupress.princeton.edu.
Need tips for Visiting Budapest and the rest of Hungary? Please go here! Visit Hungary-Wellspring of Wonders! https://visithungary.com/
Author
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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