It was a walk in the park for Turkish middle distance favourite, Sureyya AYHAN, as all of the main contenders for the women's 1500m qualified for Friday's semi-finals.
Running in the first heat, the Turk went out hard, stunning the rest of the field by taking a 20 metre lead after 400m. It was Britain's Jo Pavey who finally had had enough and pegged her back by the 800m mark. World leader Ayhan cruised over the line to finish the fastest qualifier with a time 4:08.12.
She was followed closely by Pavey (4:08.60) and USA's Regina JACOBS, (4:08.64) who celebrates her 40th birthday tomorrow.
The second heat was noticeably slower with Belgium's Veerle DEJAEGHERE setting the early pace. The first to make a move was Hayley TULLETT (GBR) at the 1200m, however, it was Romania's Maria CIONCAN who surged to the lead with 250m to go, winning in 4:10.16 to ensure her semi-final berth. Tullett, the Commonwealth silver medallist was only 0.37 seconds behind to also qualify comfortably.
France's Maria MARTINS delighted the crowd in the final heat with a fast finish to pip World Indoor bronze medallist, Yekaterina ROZENBURG (RUS) on the line in a time of 4:12.53.
Considering herself lucky is Spaniard Natalia RODRIGUEZ, who, after leading the entire race, faded in the final 200m to finish eighth, clocking a mediocre time of 4:14.08. Sixth in the world this year, Rodriguez advances to the next round as the slowest qualifier.
A notiecable absence was Britain's Kelly HOLMES, who could not recover in time to attempt to add to her silver medal in the 800m.
Running in the first heat, the Turk went out hard, stunning the rest of the field by taking a 20 metre lead after 400m. It was Britain's Jo Pavey who finally had had enough and pegged her back by the 800m mark. World leader Ayhan cruised over the line to finish the fastest qualifier with a time 4:08.12.
She was followed closely by Pavey (4:08.60) and USA's Regina JACOBS, (4:08.64) who celebrates her 40th birthday tomorrow.
The second heat was noticeably slower with Belgium's Veerle DEJAEGHERE setting the early pace. The first to make a move was Hayley TULLETT (GBR) at the 1200m, however, it was Romania's Maria CIONCAN who surged to the lead with 250m to go, winning in 4:10.16 to ensure her semi-final berth. Tullett, the Commonwealth silver medallist was only 0.37 seconds behind to also qualify comfortably.
France's Maria MARTINS delighted the crowd in the final heat with a fast finish to pip World Indoor bronze medallist, Yekaterina ROZENBURG (RUS) on the line in a time of 4:12.53.
Considering herself lucky is Spaniard Natalia RODRIGUEZ, who, after leading the entire race, faded in the final 200m to finish eighth, clocking a mediocre time of 4:14.08. Sixth in the world this year, Rodriguez advances to the next round as the slowest qualifier.
A notiecable absence was Britain's Kelly HOLMES, who could not recover in time to attempt to add to her silver medal in the 800m.
