Athletics-Thompson and Bednarek dead heat their way into 100m final

World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 - Men's 100m Semi-Final - Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - September 14, 2025 Kenneth Bednarek of the U.S. and Jamaica's Kishane Thompson cross the line to tie first place during semi-final 2 REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

TOKYO (Reuters) -Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson and American Kenny Bednarek laughed their way into the world 100 metres final on Sunday, crossing the line smiling together in their heat with identical times to the thousandth of a second in 9.85 seconds.

Thompson, who lost the Olympic final to Noah Lyles by five thousandths last year, is a more relaxed athlete now and will hope to go one better in the final later on Sunday as he seeks Jamaica’s first world 100m title since the last of Usain Bolt’s triumphs in 2015.