Setting up an eagerly anticipated final, favourites Kim Gevaerts, Gail Dvers and Christine Arron all won their respective heats in the women’s short dash.
The 37-year-old Devers equalled her 7.15 from the morning’s round to win the first semi, keeping her drive for the 60 flat/60 hurdles double alive. Yearly leader Yuliya Tabakova (7.16) of Russia was just a hair back in second, with Muriel Hurtis third in 7.18, advanced on time.
Kim Gevaerts came from behind after 35 metres to win the first heat in 7.13, equaling her own Belgian record. Yuliya Nesterenko (7.16) of Belorus held off the late charge of US championships runner-up Torri Edwards, who finished third in 7.21.
It took Christine Arron about forty metres to bounce back from the third slowest start of the heat to cruise to a 7.14 win over Natalya Safronnikova’s 7.18. Slovenia’s Merlene Ottey was third with a seasonal best 7.21, tying for the eighth spot with Edwards. After a review of the photo, Edwards was given the nod.
The final is less than an hour after the semis.
