After the strongest start of the field, American Leonard Scott improved his standing as the world’s fastest man this year, clocking 6.50 in the third of three semi-finals, and setting up a rematch with compatriot Terrence Trammell.
Scott, who trains with former World and Olympic champion Maurice Greene, dominated the fastest of the three semis, finishing five one-hundredths of a second ahead of Olusoji Fasuba who equaled his season’s best 6.55.
“My body is up now, I’m ready to roll,” Scott said.
“Third was Vicente de Lima of Brazil, whose 6.60 is a new South American record. The first six finishers each produced season or personal bests.
Trammell’s path towards his double attempt continued without a bump after his 6.58 win in the second heat, the first 6.60 performance of the weekend.
I wanted to execute the race the best possible way,” Trammell said. “I was really fast, but needed to take into account that my sprinting history is not big, so just wanted to be in the top two. I feel I am in excellent shape.”
European record holder Ronald Pognon of France was second in 6.63 to advance automatically. Lerone Clarke of Jamaica clocked a personal best of 6.66, but not enough to move on to tonight’s final.
The first race brought the small but appreciative late afternoon crowd to life after Andrey Yepishin, this year’s Russian national champion, won a close battle in 6.59. Yepishin is coached by his mother Yekaterina Podkopayeva, the 1997 World Indoor champion in the 1500. Finishing second was Matic Osovnikar of Slovenia in 6.62, equaling his season’s best to qualify to his second consecutive final. Cuban Henry Vizcaino, a close third with a personal best 6.63, moves on to tonight’s final as well.
BR
