World Athletics Championships live: Updates as Josh Kerr reaches 1500m final and Mondo Duplantis targets pole vault world record

The first track medal of the evening will shortly be decided with the men’s 3000m steeplechase underway.

Many expect a straight shootout between double Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco and world record holder Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia.

Crunch time in the men’s pole vault. Mondo Duplantis goes over 6.00m at the first attempt and he hasn’t had a failure yet. Hard to see who beats him, although Greek star Emmanouil Karalis also goes over that height at the first attempt (although he had two failures at 5.95m before clearing).

Former world record holder Renaud Lavillenie has crashed out at 5.95m, while another Frenchman Thibaut Collet is also gone. The likes of Kurtis Marschall, Sam Kendricks and Menno Vloon are still alive but yet to clear 6.00m.

It wasn’t pretty but Neil Gourley snuck through to the 1500m final in sixth spot. He spoke to the BBC after his race

“I’m relieved to say the least. I had no clue if my name was coming up in fifth or ninth. I tried to to keep my form and reach the line. I didn’t feel great tonight but it’s great to finish on the right side of it.

“I was happy to be stuck behind Cole [Olympic champion Cole Hocker] and I was surprised he let so many by him. I was content to key off Cole but he was squeezing through space as well, which left me with lots to do in the last 50 metres.

“I was just thinking ‘my Mum is going to kill me after that’! Someone needs to check on her, she’ll be having a panic attack up there in the stands. I’ll go and give her a hug now.”

Here’s the top six from that second semi-final who all reach the 1500m final

1. Reynold Cheruyiot (KEN) – 3:36.64
2. Cole Hocker (USA) – 3:36.67
3. Adrian Ben (ESP) – 3:36.78
4. Isaac Nader (POR) – 3:36.86
5. Jonah Koech (USA) – 3:36.89
6. Neil Gourley (GBR) – 3:36.93

It’s nervy for Gourley down the home straight – there’s a wall of bodies in front of him.

He looks like he’s out of it but, on the inside, lunges for the line and sneaks into sixth – the final qualifying spot. Three Brits in the final!

Ahead of him, the race was won by Reynold Cheruyiot while Olympic champion Hocker pushes one of his opponents to force his way through and comes second. The likes of Adrian Ben and Isaac Nader also through.

Gourley boxed in on the inside as we enter the final lap, he’ll need gaps to open up. Hocker also on the inside.

The second semi-final is now underway. GB’s Neil Gourley and Olympic champion Cole Hocker of the USA in this one.

Like Kerr, Gourley running towards the front.

Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman have spoken to the BBC after reaching the final

Kerr (after falling across the line: “It’s difficult to know what going on around you. I thought we were clear, which I think we were but there were dramatics in the rain. It’s a world semi, so what do you expect. It’s difficult when you’ve not seen anyone for 1400m. It wasn’t the plan to lead from the front today but the plan was to get through and I did.

Wightman: “I worked a bit too hard at bits I shouldn’t have but I felt good in the last 200 metres. It felt like people were pushing for no reason but both through, that’s main thing.”£

A little hairy at the end but job done for the two Brits in that semi-final in the end. Here’s the result from that first semi-final – with the six qualifiers.

1. Niels Laros (NED) – 3:35.50
2. Josh Kerr (GBR) – 3:35.53
3. Jake Wightman (GBR) – 3:35.56
4. Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN) – 3:35.61
5. Andrew Coscoran (IRL) – 3:35.65
6. Samuel Pihlstrom (SWE) – 3:35.71

Kerr looks comfortable and is still at the front with Laros and Cheruiyot on his shoulder.

It starts to get tight as they burn up down the home straight. Kerr boxed in on the inside and there’s a clash of legs, so he stumbles as he crosses the line but he’s in second spot and safely through.

Wightman also through in third, it was Laros who crossed the line first. Cheruiyot also in as is Ireland’s Coscoran