All the big guns cruise in London
LONDON: All the big names advanced from the first round of the women’s 1 500m last night, an event that is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing of the World Athletics Championships in London.
Ethiopia’s defending champion Genzebe Dibaba showed the way by winning the first heat in a sharp four minutes, 2.67 seconds, but jogging in just behind her was Caster Semenya, the South African Olympic 800m champion who is attempting the middle-distance double.
Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, owner of the three fastest times this season, won a slower second heat ahead of 2011 world champion Jenny Simpson of the United States, but remains favourite, though Kenya’s Olympic champion, Faith Kipyegon, showed she will be in the mix with a strong run to take the third heat.
There was plenty for the home fans to cheer too with four Britons progressing – Jessica Judd, Laura Muir, Laura Weightman and, with a personal best to snatch a fastest loser slot, Sarah McDonald.
The semi-finals take place today with the final on Monday.
South Africa’s prime hope in the 100m, Akani Simbine, ran a disappointing 10.15sec in his heat, for fourth spot.
Luckily for him, this time was just good enough to make it into the semi-finals as the fastest loser.
Thando Roto did not even reach the finish line in his heat, false-starting and being disqualified.
Jamaican Usain Bolt, in his final major meeting, overcame an iffy start in his heat, winning in 10.07sec, to move through to the semi-finals.
There was much better news for South Africa in the qualifying round of the long jump for men.
South Africa had three contenders in the event, with two of them qualifying comfortably for the final.
Luvo Manyonga has been the premier leaper this year, and his jump of 8.12m earned him fourth place among the 12 qualifiers for the final tonight.
However, he was pipped by two centimetres by countryman Ruswahl Samaai, who ended the qualifying round in third spot. Zarck Visser failed to progress. Olympic champion Jeff Henderson failed to make the final.
Bolt is seeking his fourth gold in the event – he has won the 100m at every world championships since 2009 apart from 2011 in Daegu when he was disqualified for a false start.
America’s world and Olympic champion, Justin Gatlin, twice banned for doping offences, was loudly booed by many in the 55 000 crowd when his name was announced and when he won his heat in 10.05.
American 21-year-old Christian Coleman, fastest man in the world this year with 9.92, looked smooth in winning the first heat in 10.01.
On a cool but windless night, Jamaican Julian Forte was the only man to break 10 seconds, clocking 9.99 for his first time under the magic mark.