Report11 Mar 2010


EVENT REPORT - MEN's 60m Heats

FacebookTwitterEmail

Qatar's Samuel Francis, USA's Trell Kimmons and Liberia's Abraham Morlu in the 60m heats in Doha (© Getty Images)

Dwain Chambers made an clear statement he intends to go one better than the silver medal he shared with Kim Collins at the 2008 World Indoor Championships in Valencia by posting the fastest time in the opening round.

The 31-year-old British sprinter, who could become the oldest gold medallist in the history of this event, blasted out of the blocks in heat two and was never headed - stopping the clock in 6.59.

His nearest pursuer Egwero Ogho-Oghene was 0.14 further back, but the Nigerian, like Chambers, will be back for tomorrow's semi-finals.

Chambers has had a long chequered career in the sport but appears poised to finally land his first global senior title, although the Brit is far from complacent.

"I came here to qualify, so that was my main objective," said Chambers. There are still two races to go, so I have to stay focused. I feel two years wiser. I am excited about the next race."

In heat one, the USA's Trell Kimmons proved the pick, recording a time of 6.61. He started modestly but his pick up was strong and he edged Qatar's home favourite Samuel Francis by 0.02. Nonetheless, the local crowd were delighted the Qatari advanced to tomorrow's semi-finals.

Heat three was taken by the little known Brian Mariano of the Netherlands Antilles in a time of 6.66. The 25-year-old Dutch indoor champion shaded victory by 0.03 from the fast-finishing Asian Indoor bronze medallist Barakat Al-Harthi, who made history to become the first athlete from Oman to advance beyond the first round at a World Indoor Championships.

Many believe Chambers' main rival for gold is 2009 US 100m champion Mike Rodgers, and the latter comfortably progressed to the semi-finals, clinching heat four in 6.69. Rodgers, 24, looked far from fully extended to finish 0.04 ahead ahead of Rodney Green of the Bahamas and Roland Pognon of France, who were both awarded the same time.

Heat five created an unwanted piece of history for Switzerland's Rolf Fongue, who became the first athlete to be disqualified at a major global championships under the new unforgiving false-start rule, which allows no second chances.

When the race started at the second time of asking Spain's five-time Indoor champion Angel David Rodriguez held off a late challenge from Jamaica's Olympic 4x100m gold medallist Nesta Carter to win by 0.02 in 6.67.

Heat six provided the slowest and closest race in the first round, as well as arguably, the biggest shock.

Only 0.02 separated the first four as Ryan Moseley, the Austrian Indoor champion, edged the race in 6.76. Also advancing a further 0.01 back were Switzerland's Pascal Mancini and Olympic 100m finalist Churandy Martina of the Netherland Antilles. However, missing out on a place in the semi-finals was Jamaica's Lerone Clarke, the joint No.6 on the World Lists, who had to settle for fourth in 6.78.

World Championship 100m fourth-placer Daniel Bailey of Antigua cruised to a heat seven win in 6.70. Reza Ghasemi finished second in 6.78 to ensure he became only the second Iranian in history to qualify for a World Indoor semi-final.

Steve Landells for the IAAF


 

Loading...