We’re just days away from the start of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, and Team Canada is sending its largest squad in history to represent the red and white. While household names like Marco Arop, Ethan Katzberg, Sarah Mitton and Damian Warner will headline Team Canada, there are a few lesser-known athletes who could make their own mark on the world stage.
Here are five athletes to keep an eye on in Tokyo.
Mariam Abdul-Rashid – Women’s 100m hurdles
The 27-year-old hurdler broke through at the Paris 2024 Olympics, reaching the semi-finals in her Games debut with a personal best of 12.60 seconds. After a slow start to 2025, Abdul-Rashid has found her form at the right time: she won Canadian nationals in early August (12.84) and placed fourth at the NACAC Championships a few weeks later. Abdul-Rashid is motivated by the big stages and bright lights, and Tokyo is certainly that. I wouldn’t be surprised to see race her way into a world championship final.
Women’s 100m hurdles heats: Sept. 13 at 10:28 p.m. ET
Savannah Sutherland – Women’s 400m hurdles, 4x400m relay
Saskatchewan’s Sutherland had a collegiate farewell season to remember, breaking Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s NCAA record in the 400m hurdles (from 2018) with a sub-53 clocking. That time vaulted her to world No. 3 behind Femke Bol and McLaughlin-Levrone (who won’t contest the hurdles in Tokyo). Sutherland reached the Olympic final last year, finishing seventh, and now arrives at her first world championships with podium potential. Despite the expectations, the 22-year-old says her focus is simple: improve on her Olympic result.
Women’s 400m hurdles heats: Sept. 14 at 10:20 p.m. ET
Sade McCreath – Women’s 100m and 4x100m relay
If there were an award for most improved Canadian athlete of 2025, Toronto’s McCreath would get my vote. The 29-year-old has slashed nearly three-tenths off her previous 100m best, tying the national record of 10.95 earlier this year before Audrey Leduc lowered it to 10.94 at the Edmonton Athletics Invitational in July. McCreath also helped Canada’s mixed 4x100m relay team capture gold in Guangzhou, running the fastest women’s split of the final. With her ability to rise to the occasion, I would not be surprised if McCreath left Tokyo with the title of Canadian 100m record holder to her name.
Women’s 100m heats: Sept. 13 at 5:55 a.m. ET; Women’s 4x100m relay: Sept. 20 at 7:00 a.m. ET.
Jerome Blake – Men’s 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay
Kelowna, B.C.’s Jerome Blake is enjoying a breakout season, winning 10 of his last 14 races and dipping under 10 seconds for the 100m and 20 seconds for the 200m. Along the way, he’s beaten Canadian teammate Andre De Grasse, Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo and 2020 Olympic 100m champion Marcell Jacobs. But even Blake knows championships are where it counts. If he carries his form from nationals and the NACAC Championships, I think he could crack a final in either sprint. His start will be key, and he has the speed to contend in the 100m, though the 200m path (to the final) may be more open.
Men’s 100m heats: Sept. 13 at 7:35 a.m. ET; 200m heats: Sept. 17 at 7:15 a.m. ET; Men’s 4x100m relay: Sept. 20 at 7:25 a.m. ET.
Matti Erickson – Men’s 800m
At 22, Erickson may be one of the youngest on Canada’s roster, but he races with the composure of a veteran. Fresh off a strong NCAA season with the University of Oregon Ducks, winning the indoor 800m title and finishing as runner-up outdoors, Erickson will make his senior national team debut. With 800m racing being notoriously tactical, it suits his aggressive style, which could disrupt other athletes looking to sneak into the next round without exerting too much energy. With nothing to lose, I think he will be one to watch in the heats and semi-finals.
Men’s 800m heats: Sept. 16 at 6:35 a.m. ET.
