American Courtney Champion will hope to live up to her name in this afternoon’s final after qualifying quickest from the semi-finals by equalling her personal best.
The 17-year-old looked supremely impressive in the third and final of the semi-finals as she eased through with Jamaica’s Sherline Duncan 23.53 running into a 1.4m/s headwind.
Jamaica’s World Junior 200m silver medallist Anneisha McLaughlin, the pre-event favourite, was sluggish out of the blocks but still clocked 23.79 and put her foot off the throttle in the final 40m. But if she is to win gold this afternoon she has to improve her start.
Colombia’s Darlenis Obregon joined her as the second automatic qualifier in a personal best of 24.18.
America’s powerfully built Cleo Tyson proved too strong for the opposition in the first semi-final winning in 23.96. Australia’s Sally McLellan, who is attempting a 100m hurdles, 200m and medley relay triple, squeezed into the second qualifying position by one-hundredth in 24.10.
Britain ‘s 15-year-old Carley Wenham, who placed third in heat one, qualified as a fastest loser 24.11 as did Italy’s Giulia Arcioni (24.19) from the second semi.
