The morning start played havoc with a number of big name competitors at the Palau Velodromo Luis Puig but it did not catch pre-event favourite Susanna Kallur sleeping.
The Swedish superstar, who posted a new world record of 7.68 in Karlsruhe earlier this season, stopped the clock in 7.87 to cruise to a comfortable victory in heat one.
Behind Kallur, the other two automatic qualifiers were Lacena Golding-Clarke of Jamaica in 8.01 with Belgian Eline Berings in third setting a new national record of 8.05.
However, Kallur will definitely not find matters so straight forward in tonight’s semi-finals and final.
Josephine Onyia of Spain sent the passionate home crowd into raptures after slicing a massive 0.07 from her personal best to take heat four in 7.84 – the fastest ever first round time in the history of the event at the World Indoor Championships.
What’s more Onyia also took the useful scalp of LoLo Jones, the American champion and second fastest women in the world. Jones placed second in 7.96.
There was a drama in heat two as Canada’s Priscilla Lopes-Schliep saw her hopes of qualification dashed when she clipped the fifth and last hurdle while leading from lane eight and took a heavy tumble.
Turkey’s European Under-23 100m hurdles champion Nevin Yanit profited from the fall to take the victory in 8.09 ahead of Yuliya Kondakova of Russia 8.13.
The 2002 World Junior champion Anay Tejeda of Cuba was an eye-catching winner of heat three in 7.93 from Italy’s Micol Cattaneo, who posted a personal best of 8.02 for second.
There was disappointment, however, for Spain’s other entrant Glory Alozie. The three-time World Indoor silver medallist, who has endured a desperately below par indoor campaign, limped to a tame exit from the competition after placing sixth in heat one in 8.19.
Another first round victim was Yauhenia Valadzho, who went into the event sitting fourth on the 2008 World Lists with 7.89. The Belarus athlete finished down fourth in a modest 8.27 in heat two and will play no further part in Valencia.
