Day one at the 2019 IAAF World Championships provided plenty of expected finishes as well as a steady dose of drama. All of the action at Khalifa International Stadium on Friday was qualifying, but a lost shoe from Paul Chelimo and a disqualification then reinstatement for teen star Jakob Ingebrigtsen were among the top stories on an exciting opening night in Doha.

Here are my grades for Sep. 27:

Christian Coleman and Justin Gatlin: A-

The two fastest 100m entrants each won their preliminary heats with ease on Friday night, as Christian Coleman and Justin Gatlin both proved their fitness despite question marks surrounding the Americans entering Doha. The 37-year-old Gatlin took heat two in a smooth 10.06, with Coleman dropping the lone sub-10 of qualifying in heat six (9.98). In doing so, the defending champion Gatlin appears to be right on track to medal despite injuring his hamstring four weeks ago in Croatia. Gatlin said he took a week off after the injury but he feels much better now. 

Coleman hadn’t raced since USAs due to the whereabouts inquiry that was made public last month, but the 23-year-old showed no signs of rust in his first contest in 61 days. The fastest man in the world did not speak to media in the mixed zone afterwards.

Christian Coleman is only athlete to go sub-10 in the first round of the 100m #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/TpRnFMB9D8

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) September 27, 2019

The 100m semi-final and final are tomorrow night.

A third American, Mike Rodgers, also qualified by finishing second in his heat in 10.14. With the men’s 100m down this year, a sweep by the U.S. is a possibility on Saturday.

Paul Chelimo: A

Paul Chelimo experienced every distance runner’s nightmare in heat two of the men’s 5,000m when the American had his heel stepped on in a crowded pack and lost his left spike midway through the race. But the nightmare ultimately ended well for the American as Chelimo still managed to win the prelim in 13:20.18 with only a sock protecting his foot.

Paul Chelimo kicks to win his 5K heat...with one shoe and a sock falling off ?? #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/Qz3O70ljC9

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) September 27, 2019

According to Chelimo, Filip Ingebrigtsen was the man who accidentally stepped on him and he apologized afterwards.

Remarkably, Chelimo’s foot appeared to escape the ordeal relatively unscathed. The two-time global medalist credited the toughness of his foot-- which he called “a tire”-- for staving off any injury.

Elsewhere, the 5,000m mostly went according to script. In the championship’s first bit of controversy, Norway Jakob Ingebrigtsen was first disqualified then reinstated for stepping in the infield after his federation protested. American Hassan Mead joined Chelimo in the final, while Ben True did not advance. 

Braima Suncar Dabó’s Sportsmanship: A+

Two unheralded runners who were wholly irrelevant in the heat one results of men’s 5,000m qualifying provided the moment of the race as Braima Suncar Dabó of Guinea-Bissau helped an exhausted Jonathan Busby of Aruba to the finish over the final 200m.

Always great sportsmanship in track!

The final two finishers in the first 5K heat support each other across the finish. #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/QJ3hymETzr

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) September 27, 2019

The athletes who earned qualifying spots to Monday’s final had finished nearly five minutes prior, but a light cheer from the crowd as the two ran their final laps turned to a thunderous roar once the audience saw Dabó put his arm around Busby and slowly pull him along to the finish. The help came at just the right time as Busby was staggering and disoriented when Dabó made a snap decision to offer support. Speaking through a translator, Dabó said it was an easy choice to help another man wearing his nation’s colors.

Sport is about so much more than just your own performance.

?? to Braima Suncar Dabo?? and Jonathan Busby?? at the #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/pYVeROMMYP

— IAAF (@iaaforg) September 27, 2019

“It was something normal to do, to help someone from another country because the other person was representing his country as well,” Dabó said.

Even by slowing himself down considerably to support a fellow athlete, Dabó still managed to run a personal best of 18:10.87. Unfortunately, Busby was disqualified as runners cannot receive assistance during a race.

Australia’s Baggy Uniforms: C-

I like the design and colors, but could we not find jerseys that fit, Australia? It looks like Stewart McSweyn just got done wrestling in the backyard.

U.S. Women’s 800m And 3,000m Steeple: B+

Things mostly went to plan for the American women in the distance prelims, with the one exception being 2019 U.S. Champs runner-up Hanna Green’s early exit in the 800m first round. Green picked up a poorly-timed hamstring injury on Monday in training that she wasn’t able to shake in the days after. The 24-year-old still gave it a go on Friday, but she was last in her heat in 2:04.37.

The steeplechase saw the reigning gold and silver medalists, Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs, easily advance to Monday’s final, with Coburn and Frerichs finishing second in their respective heats in 9:23.40 and 9:18.42. World record holder Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya ran the fastest qualifying time of 9:18.01.

Rookie pro Allie Ostrander did not qualify for the final but did run a 9:30.85 personal best. She missed advancing by 0.84 seconds.

Juan Miguel Echevarría: A

It was only qualifying, but Cuban Juan Miguel Echevarría has already shown that the Doha runway could provide a huge number in the final by leaping 8.40m on Friday. The mark wasn’t a PR for Echevarría, far from it, but with it the 21-year-old notched the best mark in world championship qualifying in 20 years.

? Juan Miguel Echevarria jumps 8.40 ?

Longest ever jump in the qualification rounds at the #WorldAthleticsChamps since 1999 ? pic.twitter.com/ohxVXkdeqa

— IAAF (@iaaforg) September 27, 2019

With him going full bore in Saturday's final, the 2018 world indoor champion should improve on his 8.68m personal best. Remember, this is the same man who leapt a wind-aided 8.83 last year, the furthest mark in any conditions for nearly 24 years. Mike Powell’s 8.95m world record from 1991 might still be out of reach, but Echevarría set the table for something special in Doha.