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The IAAF only allows three (sometimes four) athletes per country to compete in an event at the World Championships. As a result, top-ranked athletes may end up watching the meet from home. Also, some athletes scratch due to injury or race preference. Here's a list of athletes who won't be competing at Worlds in an event where they currently hold a top-eight mark in 2019.
Men's Events:
| World Rank | Event | Mark | Athlete | Country |
| 1 | 26.2 | 2:02:37 | Eliud Kipchoge | KEN |
| 2 | 100 | 9.86 | Noah Lyles | USA |
| 2 | 200 | 19.70 | Michael Norman | USA |
| 2 | 10K | 26:49.46 | Selemon Barega | ETH |
| 4 | 26.2 | 2:03:34 | Getaneh Tamire | ETH |
| 4 | 400 | 44.23 | Kahmari Montgomery | USA |
| 4 | 800 | 1:43.11 | Timothy Cheruiyot | KEN |
| 4 | 1500 | 3:30.62 | Charlie Da'Vall Grice | GBR |
| 4 | DT | 67.98 | Lois Maikel Martínez | ESP |
| 4 | HT | 79.10 | Valeriy Pronkin | RUS |
| 4 | PV | 5.95 | Chris Nilsen | USA |
| 5 | 26.2 | 2:03:40 | Herpasa Negasa | ETH |
| 5 | 400 | 44.25 | Trevor Stewart | USA |
| 5 | 800 | 1:43.48 | Wycliffe Kinyamal | KEN |
| 5 | 5K | 12:56.48 | Abadi Hadis | ETH |
| 5 | DEC | 8,445 | Johannes Erm | EST |
| 5 | JT | 89.06 | Bernhard Seifert | GER |
| 6 | 26.2 | 2:04:11 | Marius Kipserem | KEN |
| 6 | 100 | 9.93 | Cravon Gillespie | USA |
| 6 | 10K | 26:54.39 | Jemal Yimer | ETH |
| 6 | 110H | 13.17 | Freddie Crittenden | USA |
| 6 | 5K | 12:57.41 | Joshua Cheptegei | UGA |
| 6 | HJ | 2.31 | Daniyil Tsyplakov | RUS |
| 7 | 26.2 | 2:04:24 | Asefa Mengistu | ETH |
| 7 | 400 | 44.31 | Rai Benjamin | USA |
| 7 | 10K | 26:56.46 | Abadi Hadis | ETH |
| 8 | 26.2 | 2:04:46 | Titus Ekiru | KEN |
| 8 | 1500 | 3:31.45 | Bethwel Birgen | KEN |
| 8 | 10K | 27:00.73 | Berehanu Wendim | ETH |
| 8 | 400H | 48.48 | Quincy Hall | USA |
| 8 | 5K | 12:58.10 | Woody Kincaid | USA |
| 8 | DEC | 8,344 | Zach Ziemek | USA |
| 8 | PV | 5.83 | Andrew Irwin | USA |
Women's Events:
| World Rank | Event | Mark | Athlete | Country |
| 1 | 200 | 21.74 | Shaunae Miller-Uibo | BAH |
| 1 | 800 | 1:54.98 | Caster Semenya | RSA |
| 2 | 26.2 | 2:17:41 | Worknesh Degefa | ETH |
| 2 | 1500 | 3:55.47 | Genzebe Dibaba | ETH |
| 2 | 3K SC | 9:03.71 | Norah Tanui | KEN |
| 2 | 5K | 14:20.68 | Agnes Tirop | KEN |
| 3 | 26.2 | 2:18:20 | Brigid Kosgei | KEN |
| 3 | 100 | 10.75 | Sha'Carri Richardson | USA |
| 3 | 400 | 49.19 | Amina Seyni | NIG |
| 3 | 800 | 1:57.75 | Francine Niyonsaba | BDI |
| 3 | PV | 4.85 | Eliza McCartney | NZL |
| 4 | 10K | 30:46.24 | Zeineba Yimer | ETH |
| 4 | 400H | 53.73 | Shamier Little | USA |
| 4 | HJ | 2.00 | Anna Chicherova | RUS |
| 4 | LJ | 6.92 | Kenyattia Hackworth | USA |
| 5 | 26.2 | 2:20:14 | Vivian Cheruiyot | KEN |
| 5 | 100H | 12.52 | Chanel Brissett | USA |
| 5 | 3K SC | 9:06.66 | Daisy Jepkemei | KEN |
| 5 | HT | 75.61 | Anita Włodarczyk | POL |
| 6 | 200 | 22.17 | Sha'Carri Richardson | USA |
| 6 | 800 | 1:58.42 | Laura Muir | GBR |
| 6 | 10K | 30:51.86 | Dera Dida | ETH |
| 6 | DT | 65.98 | Andressa de Morais | BRA |
| 6 | HT | 75.43 | Janeah Stewart | USA |
| 6 | TJ | 14.64 | Darya Nidbaykina | RUS |
| 7 | 100 | 10.95 | Kayla White | USA |
| 7 | 100H | 12.57 | Tonea Marshall | USA |
| 7 | 10K | 30:53.11 | Tsehay Gemechu | ETH |
| 7 | 5K | 14:36.10 | Caroline Kipkirui | KEN |
| 7 | HEP | 6,518 | Laura Ikauniece | LAT |
| 7 | TJ | 14.61 | Kristin Gierisch | GER |
| 8 | 26.2 | 2:20:52 | Gladys Cherono | KEN |
| 8 | 100 | 10.98 | Twanisha Terry | USA |
| 8 | 100H | 12.58 | Christina Clemons | USA |
| 8 | 10K | 30:53.32 | Gete Alemayehu | ETH |
| 8 | HT | 75.04 | Maggie Ewen | USA |