The main protagonists avoided the first round pitfalls to secure their places in the quarter-finals. Much of the pre-race attention was focused on Veronica Campbell and Torri Edwards and the world’s top two qualified with something to spare. Campbell, the world No1 did not appear to expend a lot of effort as she recorded a routine 11.33 to secure victory in heat two into a slight headwind of 0.8m/s.
Torri Edwards made a solid start in her bid to regain the 100m world title, although the US athlete was forced to work a little harder to secure top spot in heat eight, breaking the beam in 11.14 to defeat African Games champion Damola Osayomi of Nigeria by 0.01.
Pride of place as fastest qualifier went to Carmelita Jeter. The American recovered from a sluggish start to take heat one in 11.07 – just 0.02 slower than her lifetime best. Indeed, the fastest three qualifiers in the round came from that heat with European champion Kim Geveart in second with 11.09 and Sri Lanka’s 1997 world 200m silver medallist, Susanthika Jayasinghe, third in 11.13.
Australian powerhouse Sally McLellan caused a surprise by hacking 0.09 from her personal best to pip Bulgaria’s world No7 Tezdzhan Naimova by 0.01 to win heat three in 11.14. The bottle-blonde Naimova boasts a lifetime best of 11.04 but looked like she had to work a little harder than the Australian to ensure qualification.
Christine Arron, of France, a double sprint bronze medallist at the 2005 World Championships, made comfortable work of winning heat four in 11.27.
In heat five Bahamian veteran Chandra Sturrup benefited from a rocket start to cross the line first in 11.32 from Jamaican No2 Kerron Stewart (11.35).
Mechelle Lewis of the USA, who only took her place in the US team after the late withdrawal from the 100m of Allyson Felix, qualified as an eye-catching heat six winner in 11.16 from Jamaica’s Commonwealth 100m champion Sheri-Ann Brooks (11.29).
Defending champion Lauryn Williams of the USA looked a little under par in heat seven settling for second in a modest 11.41 heat seven. The pocket rocket appeared to be over-striding and had to concede the heat to the muscular Russian Yevgeniya Polyakova who ran 11.30.
The second round of the women’s 200m takes place later today starting at 20:35 local time.
Osaka 2007 News Team/sl
