Fantu Magiso of Ethiopia stumbles as she Marilyn Okoro of Great Britain competes with in the Women's 800 Metres first round during day one - WIC Istanbul (© Getty Images)
With an impressive sub-two minute run, Elena Kofanova led all qualifiers into Sunday's highly unpredictable 800m final.
The 23-year-old, who cruised to the national title in Moscow late last month, is attempting to become the latest Russian indoor standout in the event. She ran with confidence in the third of three heats, her 1:59.80 not too far from the 1:59.63 career indoor best she produced in her national championships heat. She ran particularly well over the final lap, holding off Erica Moore (USA) who followed in the Russian's wake to a 2:00.24 personal best and her first international final.
The 800m traditionally produces some of the most unforgiving qualifying championship races, with Istanbul being no exception.
Heat one witnessed the first Russian victory in the event, courtesy of Yuliya Rusanova who edged 2008 Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo who is continuing her comeback from injury. Rusanova needed a 2:00.26 season's best to hold off the quick-kicking Kenyan, who was just a step behind in 2:00.32.
"I'm so happy to be back in international competition," said Jelimo, whose 1:59.10 run in Lievin last month was a Kenyan national record. "It's a big motivation after my injury to be able to run again against the best."
The second heat was the slowest, but the victory the most convincing. Competing in her first World Indoor Championships, 19-year-old Ethiopian Fantu Magiso broke from the field with just over 200 metres remaining to cruise to an easy victory in 2:01.69. Runner-up Marayna Arzamasava of Belarus, clocked 2:02.05, not fast enough to move on into the six-woman final.
"I felt good and expected to run a personal best today," said Magiso, the national record holder at 200, 400 and 800m. "I made it to the next round and I will now prepare for the semi-finals. I want to win here." If she even finishes in the top-three, it'll be a first for Ethiopia.
Even further back was Malika Akkaoui, the 24-year-old Moroccan who led the world pre-Istanbul after a 1:59.01 performance in Lievin where she beat Jelimo. Here she was never a factor and finished a distant fit in 2:04.20.
Merve Aydin of Turkey caught a tough break in heat three, where she finished third in 2:01.19, not quick enough to qualify. But her run did knock more than a full second off the previous national record set last year by Yeliz Kurt in Bratislava.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
