The 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo are finally here, and if you love big moments, this is as good as it gets. From explosive 100m sprints to tactical 1500m duels and dramatic 400m showdowns, this year’s championships are loaded with storylines and betting value.
We’ve put together our best 2025 World Athletics Championships betting tips to help you make sense of the odds and spot where the smart money is going. Our athletics predictions focus on more than just the favourites. We break down form, recent performances, and race dynamics so you know where the risk and reward lies. This year’s championship feels wide open in several events, which means there could be some big-priced winners for punters willing to take a chance.
World Athletics Championships 100m Predictions
Noah Lyles loves big occasions and has already proven to be dangerous as the underdog. The American was second in his heats at the Olympics, but stepped up in the final to set a PB and win his first Olympic gold medal. He is worth 13/5 with our online sportsbook. That seems slightly overpriced for a man who beat the fastest sprinter in the world just last summer.
With that being said, Kishane Thompson is a deserved favourite. Although he was pipped by Lyles in Paris, it was one of the tightest results in 100m history. Lyles won by 0.005 seconds. Thompson has been the most consistent performer over the last 12 months. He has regularly clocked sub-9.90 times and showing an incredible ability to maintain top speed over the final 40m. At 17/20, he is priced as the man to beat, and for good reason. His start is explosive, and when he is in full flow, very few can stay with him.
Oblique Seville (5/2) is another serious contender. The Jamaican has been knocking on the door of a global gold medal. He brings perhaps the smoothest technique in the field. Seville has finished in the top four at the last two World Championships and is capable of lowering his personal best when it matters most. His consistency is both a strength and a potential weakness. He rarely runs a poor race, but he has struggled to find the extra gear needed to topple the likes of Thompson and Lyles in major finals.
Kenneth Bednarek (14/1) is the wildcard. Primarily known as a 200m specialist, he has made huge strides in the shorter sprint this season. He could surprise a few if he gets a fast start. However, his lack of experience in major 100m finals could make it difficult for him to handle the intensity of a world-class field.
World Athletics Championships 100m Betting Tips
Best Bet: Noah Lyles (13/5)
For value, Noah Lyles at 13/5 still feels like the smart play. He is the reigning world champion over 100m and 200m, thrives under pressure, and has the championship mentality to deliver when it matters. His ability to close races in the final 20 metres is unmatched, and if he can stay within touching distance of Thompson and Seville out of the blocks, he will be very hard to stop. At this price, backing Lyles to defend his title offers one of the best risk/reward bets on the card.
World Athletics Championships Women’s 100m Predictions
Melissa Jefferson enters the World Athletics Championships as the firm favourite at 1/2, and it’s hard to argue against those odds. The American has been the most dominant women’s sprinter this season. She has been winning consistently on the Diamond League circuit and posting some of the fastest times in the world. Her explosive start and ability to hold her form through the last 40 metres make her incredibly difficult to catch once she’s ahead. At this price, the bookmakers clearly expect her to produce another big performance and secure gold.
Julien Alfred is the obvious danger. The Saint Lucian star has been a revelation and has continued to improve her consistency at the elite level. Alfred’s start is one of the sharpest in the field, and she has shown that she can run low-10.8s under pressure. If she can find another personal best in the final, she has the potential to push Jefferson all the way to the line. The key for Alfred will be staying relaxed through the drive phase. Any tension could cost her vital hundredths of a second against such a formidable favourite.
Tia Clayton and Sha’Carri Richardson are both priced at 20/1. While both are immensely talented, it would take a career-best performance and perhaps an off day from Jefferson and Alfred for either to capture gold. Clayton is still developing at this level but has shown glimpses of brilliance on the Jamaican circuit. Richardson, meanwhile, has the pedigree and personality to rise to the occasion. However, her inconsistent form over the past year makes her difficult to back with confidence in a field this strong.
World Athletics Championships Women’s 100m Betting Tips
Best Bet: Melissa Jefferson (1/2)
Jefferson is the favourite for a reason, and she has to be the pick. She has been ruthless all season, and her consistency makes her a safe bet to deliver in a championship setting. However, for those looking for slightly longer odds, Alfred at 6/4 could be worth a play if you are betting on the World Athletic’s Championships, especially if you believe she is ready to peak on the biggest stage. Expect Jefferson to take control early, with Alfred charging late, but Jefferson’s strength and experience should see her claim gold in a closely fought final.
World Athletics Championships 1500m Predictions
British runner Josh Kerr stunned Norwegian favourite Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the final of this event in 2023 and is out to defend his medal. He had a strong year in 2024. Kerr set a World Best at the short track two-mile at the Millrose Games, claimed gold at the World Athletics Indoor Championships and then silver in the 1500m final at the Paris Olympics, breaking the British national record. At 11/2, Kerr looks slightly overlooked by the market. This especially given his proven ability to beat the best on the biggest stage.
Niels Laros is the favourite at 5/4, and the Dutch sensation is in electric form. He has continued to drop his times this season. Laros also appears ready to deliver a career-best performance on the global stage. His finishing speed is exceptional, and if the pace is honest from the gun, he could be very difficult to hold off over the last 200 metres. His odds reflect his form, and he could dominate this race.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen is priced at 7/2 and remains a force despite some injury disruptions last year. The Norwegian has the engine and experience to control a race from the front, and if he can rediscover his very best form, he is capable of running the legs off most of this field. However, questions remain about whether he can produce peak performances on the big stage after finishing off the podium in Paris.
Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech at 9/2 is an intriguing outside threat. The Kenyan thrives in fast, aggressive races and could take advantage if the favourites engage in a tactical battle early. His ability to hang on in a furious final lap makes him a live danger, especially if the early pace strings the field out.
World Athletics Championships 1500m Betting Tips
Best Bet: Josh Kerr (11/2)
Kerr’s value lies in his ability to time his effort perfectly. If he can sit in the pack, conserve energy, and unleash his trademark last-lap kick, he has every chance of defending his title. Expect Laros and Ingebrigtsen to make this a quick race, but if Kerr is within striking distance at the bell, he may once again steal the show with a perfectly timed surge down the home straight. He looks great value at 11/2 in the World Athletics Championship betting.
World Athletics Championships Women’s 400m Predictions
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is back on the 400m stage. That alone makes this one of the most exciting races of the World Championships. The Olympic and World 400m hurdles champion is a generational talent and is still figuring out just how fast she can go over the flat 400. At 21/20, she’s the narrow favourite. When she’s healthy, she can make one lap of the track look effortless. The big question is whether her limited racing schedule in 2024 will leave her a touch vulnerable against this field.
Marileidy Paulino at 6/4 is arguably the safer bet for those looking for consistency. The Dominican star has been the benchmark for the women’s 400m over the past two seasons. She has racked up Diamond League wins and claimed Olympic gold in Paris. She’s a metronome when it comes to pacing her races, and she almost always has something left for the last 100m. If McLaughlin-Levrone starts conservatively or misjudges her rhythm, Paulino is exactly the type of runner who will take full advantage.
Then there’s Salwa Eid Naser at 11/4, who remains a wildcard in every sense. The Bahraini sprinter has the pedigree as a former world champion and one of only three women in history to break 49 seconds. When she’s at her best, she can blow a race wide open with a ridiculously fast first 200m. The issue, of course, is whether she can sustain that pace all the way through the final straight. If she does, she’s a serious threat to win.
World Athletics Championships Women’s 400m Betting Tips
Best Bet: Marileidy Paulino (6/4)
This race feels like it will come down to whether McLaughlin-Levrone can execute her race plan under pressure. If she stays patient through the first 300m and uses that incredible strength down the home straight, she’s the one to beat. But if Paulino is on her shoulder coming off the bend, we could be in for a thriller. For punters, McLaughlin-Levrone is a worthy favourite, but Paulino at slightly bigger odds offers great value for those expecting a more tactical, evenly run race.
