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News15 Jul 2004


Women's 100m Hurdles - heats

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No fewer than 10 of the 16 qualifiers from the first round of the 100m hurdles set personal bests this morning, with the fastest time of 13.30 set by Australia’s Sally McLellan, who has already won a bronze medal here in the 100m.

Running in heat 1, the Aussie speedster lagged behind fast starting Stephanie Lichtl (GER) and Eline Berings (BEL) until the halfway point, when she began to ease clear. Lichtl clocked 13.36, Berings 13.54, and fourth place finisher Arna Erega of Croatia 13.91 to qualify as a fastest loser. Helped by a friendly wind of +1 m/s, all four athletes plus Sandra Hernanz (ESP) who clocked 13.92 in fifth, set personal bests.

The second heat saw an emphatic victory by Ronetta Alexander (USA), the fastest in the world this year, who stopped the clock at 13.43 (wind -0.4 m/s), after being pushed over the first part of the race by Finland’s Elisa Hakamaki, who set a personal best of 13.70 to finish second. The third automatic qualifying place went to Jamaica’s Keisha Brown in 13.93.

There was another American victory in the third heat, as Shantia Moss powered clear of the field to record 13.46 (wind +0.46). Behind her, there was a great race for the other qualifying places, with Yelena Bandina (RUS) just edging France’s Cindy Billaud – 13.74 to 13.75 – with the Russian running her fastest ever time.

The closest race came in the last heat, where six athletes qualified for the next round. With the lead switching throughout the race, victory went on the line to Sabrina Altermatt of Switzerland in 13.53, three 100ths of a second ahead of Christina Vukicevic (NOR), with Monique Morgan (JAM) just another three 100ths behind in third (both times were personal bests). Germany’s Carolin Nytra ran 13.60 in fourth, and qualified as a fastest loser together with Aline Decaux (FRA) who clocked 13.62 (pb) and Jaime Cruikshank (CAN) who ran 13.85 (pb).

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