Blake is world champ
Yohan Blake was crowned 100 metres world champion when he stopped the clock at 9.92 seconds, at the Daegu Stadium.
Defending champion Usain Bolt was disqualified for a false start, opening the door for his fellow-Jamaican and training partner to strike gold.
American Walter Dix picked up silver in 10.08 seconds, finishing just ahead of Kim Collins, the veteran St Kitts and Nevis sprinter bagging bronze in 10.09.
Richard, Keston out in semis
Richard “Torpedo” Thompson and Keston Bledman exited at the semi-final stage of the men’s 100 metres event.
Bledman finished fifth in heat one in 10.14 seconds, missing out on a championship race berth by the narrowest of margins. Antigua’s Daniel Bailey, who was fourth in the same race, also clocked 10.14, and advanced to the final as the second of two “fastest losers”. Jamaica’s Yohan Blake won the heat in 9.95.
Thompson finished third in heat two in 10.20 seconds. Defending champion Usain Bolt of Jamaica was first home in 10.05.
And veteran St Kitts and Nevis sprinter Kim Collins topped the third and final heat in 10.08 seconds.
T&T sprint trio advance
Trinidad and Tobago enjoyed a perfect start to the women’s 100 metres event, all three sprinters advancing to the semi-final round. Kelly-Ann Baptiste led the way, the Florida-based athlete winning heat four in 11.27 seconds. Michelle-Lee Ahye made an impressive World Championship debut, the 19-year-old sprinter finishing third in heat three in a personal best 11.20 to advance automatically to the semis. And Semoy Hackett qualified as a “fastest loser” after finishing fourth in heat two in 11.27 seconds.
Quow in 400 semis
Renny Quow was impressive in the opening men’s 400 metres qualifying heat, the Trinidad and Tobago quarter-miler finishing second in 44.84 seconds—his fastest time this season. Grenadian Rondell Bartholomew copped the top spot in 44.82. Quow advanced to the semis as the fourth fastest qualifier, behind defending champion LaShawn Merritt (44.35) of the United States, Belgian Kevin Borlee (44.77) and Bartholomew. Another Grenadian, teenager Kirani James won heat four in 45.12 seconds.
In tomorrow’s semi-final round, Quow will do battle with Merritt and Borlee in the first of three heats. The top two in each heat earn an automatic berth in the final.
Borel safely through
Trinidad and Tobago’s Cleopatra Borel booked her spot in the women’s shot put final with a big 18.95 metres throw in today’s qualifying round. Thirteen throwers bettered the 18.65m automatic qualifying distance, reigning champion Valerie Adams of New Zealand leading the way with a 19.79m heave. Borel finished seventh overall.
Good session
Good morning, and welcome to Express Online’s Day 2 coverage of the IAAF World Championships, here in Daegu, Korea. Five Trinidad and Tobago athletes competed during the opening session, and all five progressed to the next round of competition.
Source: www.trinidadexpress.com
By Kwame Laurence in Daegu