Christine Ohuruogu outgunned by flying Allyson Felix at World Championships

Allyson Felix justified her step-up to the 400 metres with a convincing world championships victory which helped send the misfiring United States team soaring up the medals table on Thursday.

Felix took gold over the Bahamas’ Shaunae Miller (49.67) and Jamaica’s Sherika Jackson (49.99).

By Christopher ClareyAllyson Felix has the sniffles: a cold during the summer and the world track and field championships.

The American, whose record gold medal collection began in the 2005 event when she won the 200m, revised her PB by 0.33 in setting the fastest time since 2012 of 49.26. His winning jump was 18.21 meters, 8 centimeters shy of a world record.

Pichardo took silver ahead of the man who won the Olympic title here seven years ago, Nelson Evora of Portugal, who claimed bronze with a last round 17.52. Three fouls in the same pit last Sunday resulted in her slipping from gold-medal contention to out-of-contention in a heptathlon won by British teammate Jessica Ennis-Hill. Williams was sixth in her semi with 22.87 – two hundredths outside the season’s best she set in her opening round.

Johnson-Thompson described the past few days as “really hard”, but said words of support from Greg Rutherford had helped.

Steph Twell qualified for the final of the 5,000m as a fastest loser, coming home 13th in her heat in 15:34.72.

Murer is from Brazil, and the Olympics are in Rio de Janeiro next August. “At the most devastating moment, it’s just nice to see a face you know and someone who is on your side”, Felix said. “I was so close to the world record and this is what championships are all about”. But in view of the challenges she has overcome to get back to the Bird’s Nest and the challenges her sport continues to face to its integrity it seems a minor concern.

“I am so happy it has all come together at the right time”, the personal trainer said.

America’s Brittney Reese, the three-time reigning champion and the Olympic champion, was one of those to go out, managing just 6.39m. “But I’m not going to pull it apart, there were supreme runners today”.

Day 6 of the world championships will culminate with Usain Bolt’s bid for another sprint double when he runs in the final of the 200 meters. The Jamaican had the strong 100 meter start and with Gatlin still trailing, there was not a chance Bolt would relinquish the lead.

But neither Isobel Pooley nor Morgan Lake qualified for the high jump final, with both unable to clear higher than 1.89m.

That is one of four finals set for Thursday, with the others in the men’s triple jump and the women’s 400 and hammer throw.