In the first of three semifinals, World 100m champion Lauryn Williams sailed to a 7.10 win, eclipsing her previous personal best of 7.11. After a modest start, the 22-year-old forged to the lead with about 15 metres remaining to edge defending silver medallist Kim Gevaert of Belgium, who clocked 7.13. Both the American and Belgian appeared to have plenty of left in the waning stages of the race. Zhanna Block, the 2003 champion, was a distant third in 7.19.
Christine Arron took another step closer to claiming her first global indoor medal with a powerful 7.11 win in heat two.
“My race was better than this morning,” Arron said, “but I still lack power. I didn’t have enough rest.”
World leader Mariya Bolikova exploded from the blocks, and controlled the race until Arron forged to the lead two-thirds through the race. Bolikova, who clocked 7.04 earlier this winter, held on for second in 7.16. Sylvie Mballa Eloundou of Cameroon was third in 7.23, and will advance as well.
But the most dominating performance came in the third of the three races, with Me’Lisa Barber’s 7.12 win, nearly a full tenth of a second ahead of Russian Larisa Kruglova (7.21). The U.S. champion last year at 100m and this year at 60m, has a pair of relay gold medals in her growing collection, and remains the favorite to win her first solo medal.
“It felt pretty good,” said Barber. The semis were a lot better than the heats for me. But I don’t want to compare them too much. Only the final matters.”
BR
