Sally Pearson of Australia (R) and Eline Berings of Belgium compete in the Women's 60 Metres Hurdles first round during day one - WIC Istanbul (© Getty Images)
Drama struck in the opening round of the women’s 60m Hurdles where World leader Kristi Castlin running in heat 2 failed to complete her race.
The fastest woman this year with 7.84, Castlin stopped running after taking her first few steps in a major international competition most probably waiting for the starter’s recall. However the second gunshot never came and it was the end of Castlin’s championships.
The American champion tried to argue her case with the track officials but after a long discussion she was escorted off the track visibly disrupted.
Veteran Vonette Dixon may have also been affected by Castlin’s misjudgment, the Jamaican stopping her race after clearing the first hurdle.
Belarus’ Alina Talay went on to win the heat in 8.11 ahead of Angela Morosanu of Romania, the second slower qualifier of the day in 8.37!
The first of four heats fortunately didn’t have the same drama and World outdoor champion Sally Pearson breezed through her first round heat and curiously only the second 60m Hurdles indoor of the World Athlete of the Year’s career.
Pearson had a blistering start and ran a strong but conservative race to clock a new Asutralian and Oceania record 7.85, only one hundredth of a second off the season’s World best time.
European indoor champion Eline Berings of Belgium followed in second in a distant 8.08 and yet the third fastest time in round one!
Great Britain’s Tiffany Porter, an unlucky finalist in Daegu’s 100m Hurdles, clocked the second fastest time of the field when winning heat 3 in 8.00 from Sharona Bakker of the Netherlands (8.19).
The fourth and final heat went to Italy’s Marzia Caravelli who out-dipped Beate Schrott of Asutria 8.13 to 8.16.
Former World Indoor champion Derval O’Rourke of Ireland also advanced to tomorrow’s semi finals.
Laura Arcoleo for the IAAF
