USA's Sanya Richards begins her attack on what could be her first gobal title (© Getty Images)
Fate can sometimes play a funny hand and with World No.1 and pre-race favourite Sanya Richards pitched into the same heat as defending World and Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu observers were keen to pick up any pointers for a potential showdown between the pair in Tuesday's final
So what did we learn? Well, not too much. Richards is clearly in great shape, which she has demonstrated quite clearly throughout a season in which she has recorded the world's fastest time 49.23 and boasts a four out of four record in the ÅF Golden League series.
The American cruised to victory in heat five in 51.06 but what of Ohuruogu, who has yet to show her best form due a combination of illness and injury? Well, the British athlete looked fairly relaxed, finishing second in 51.30 ahead Aliann Pompey (51.38) of Guyana who took the third automatic spot for tomorrow's semi-finals.
In heat one the fast-finishing Lyudmila Litvinova of Russia snatched first place in 51.31 from Italy's Libania Grenot (51.45), who appeared to ease off the gas in the latter stages having held a significant lead coming into the home straight.
The 2007 World bronze medallist Novlene Williams-Mills satisfactorily advanced as heat two winner in 51.55. The Jamaican held a clear lead coming into the home straight and progressed from the 2008 World Junior 400m silver medallist Jessica Beard of the USA (51.74). Much to the delight of the home crowd taking third, and also qualifying, was German champion Sorina Nwachukwu, who was 0.02 further back.
The fastest qualifier was Botswana's Amantle Montsho, who was a hugely impressive winner of heat three in 50.65. The enigmatic African champion has proved an inconsistent performer at championship level but revealed her medal potential with a commanding performance from lane eight. She left the Olympic silver medallist Shericka Williams trailing in her wake - and the Jamaican had to settle for second in 51.23. France's Solen Desert-Mariller (51.63) took third.
A tight heat four was taken by Debbie Dunn in 51.13. The US Championships runner-up held off a late charge from Russia's former World 200m champion Anastasiya Kapachinskaya (51.17) to bag the heat victory.
World No.2 Antonina Krivoshapka of Russia eased to a comfortable victory in the sixth and final heat. The European Indoor champion kicked effortlessly away from her nearest pursuer, Nicola Sanders, down the home straight to stop the clock in 51.03. Sanders of Great Britain, the 2007 World Silver medallist, took second in 51.64.
Steve Landells for the IAAF
