It’s not often an athlete receives a personal best and then leaves the track with a sense of disappointment.But after Karsten Warholm ran the second-fastest 400m hurdles (跨栏) in history earlier this year, the man couldn’t help but think what could have been.

The 24-year-old dragged his trailing (落后) leg on the final hurdle in Stockholm in August to finish in a world-leading 46.87 seconds—0.09 seconds shy of Kevin Young’s world record, a mark he has moved ever closer to throughout his career.Young’s world record, set at the Barcelona Olympics, has stood for 28 years, the longest-standing record in men’s track running.

“Being really happy and really disappointed at the same time—it’s a strange feeling,” Warholm says as he reflects on his season.“I was really, really happy of course with the race in itself.But stumbling (绊倒) into the last hurdle and just looking at the time, knowing that most likely I spoiled my chance of a world record right there.I think I’ve never felt that way before.”

Young recently said he feels it’s “about time” his record is broken, and a glance at the all-time list suggests he might not have to wait much longer.Warholm has run four of the 10 fastest times in the event’s history, while his two closest competitors, Rai Benjamin and Abderrahmane Samba, make up the only other athletes to ever run under 47 seconds.

Between those three, the race for the world record is very much on.“This is going to be really, really tough competition,” says Warholm, who took the world title last year.“I think in 400m hurdles we are in for a real treat because everybody wants this right now.I think it’s going to be like the moon race between the United States and Russia – it’s going to be crazy.”

It will take more big leaps than small steps to win in hurdles’ version of the Space Race, but as with any contest—athletic or cosmic (宇宙的)—it is competition that helps boost progress.“It’s really important to have competition, somebody pushing you and somebody keeping you on your toes, I really like that,” Warholm adds.“I’m thankful for my competitors – even though I want to beat them, of course.”

What: The 2019 World Championships

Why You Should Watch: It’s the best track field competition the world has to offer outside of the Olympic Games.

When: Races and field events begin on September 27 and run through October 6.

Where: On October 3, NBC Sports Network will continuously air the meet from 9:15 a. m. to 5:30 p. m. EST. All day, you can also stream (流播) every event on NBC Sports Gold(Requires: $59.99). Clicking, you can find the full broadcast plan here.

This year it’s the first time a Middle Eastern city has hosted the event. It also might be one of the hottest world championships. To reduce the possibility of heat stroke or tiredness, all of the events start after 4 p. m. Doha time (9 a. m. EST), with some events much later—including the marathon, which kicks off at midnight on September 27.

To help cool athletes and audiences, air conditioning units have been set inside the stadium. Athletes competing in events 1,500 meters and longer will also be asked to take a pill that tracks their temperatures, with the hope that this data can help prepare race organizers, athletes, and coaches for the hot conditions expected at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Temperature aside, there are some fiery races to look forward to this year, minus a few noteworthy names: six-time world champion Mo Farah of Great Britain, and two-time Olympic 800 gold medalist Caster Semenya of South Africa will not be competing.

Races to Watch on Day 7:

● The fastest time in the first round belongs to 10,000-meter champ Sifan Hassan. The race is at 4 p.m. EST.

● The men’s heats of the 1, 500 will include Craig Engels, Ben Blankenship, and 2016 Olympic gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz. The races start at 3 p.m.

● The finals of the women’s 400 meters includes Americans Adeline Jonathas and Phyllis Francis. The race is at 4:50 p.m.