An enthusiastic crowd in the Daegu stadium (© Getty Images)
Daegu, Korea - Two years after seeing a World 1500 gold medal disappear when she was disqualified for elbowing an opponent, Spain’s Natalia Rodriguez is back in the World final and intent on creating happier history.
She will go into Thursday night’s race as the fastest qualifier after winning the second of two semi-finals in 4:07.88, just ahead of the fast-finishing American Jennifer Barringer Simpson, who was second in 4:07.90, and Nataliya Tobias of Ukraine, third in 4:07.99.
“I am in great form and I am happy to make it to the final,” Rodriguez said. “I had a medal chance in Berlin, but I missed it. I will fight for the gold.”
Defending champion Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain is still on course for what would be a third consecutive title after qualifying safely from an opening semi-final won by Tugba Karakaya, whose late surge past the leaders took her onto the edges of lane three.
The Turkish runner won in 4:08.58 ahead of Kenya’s Hellen Onsando Obiri, second in 4:08.93, and Ethiopia’s Kalkidan Gezahegne, who appeared to have been put out of the competition in her opening heat when she was caused to stumble as New Zealand’s Nikki Hamblin caught her heel and fell.
However, the Ethiopian successfully appealed for qualification, and now she will be setting her sights on a medal.
Yusuf Jamal – who profited from Rodriguez’s disqualification in Berlin - was one place behind Gezahegne in 4:08.96, with Morgan Uceny of the United States, who will be doubling up here over 800 metres, taking the fifth automatic qualifying place.
Hannah England of Britain and Mimi Belete of Bahrain profited from Rodriguez’s speed despite failing to earn one of the five automatic qualifying places, going through as the two fastest losers.
Mike Rowbottom for the IAAF
