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Kelli on course for sprint double
rediff.com Sportsdesk |
August 27, 2003 00:23 IST
Last Updated: August 27, 2003 01:10 IST
Kelli White of the United States stayed on course for a golden double in the sprints at the World Athletics Championships in Paris when she won the second quarterfinal of the women's 200m event on Tuesday.
White ran a faster race in the quarterfinal than she had in the heats, finishing in 22.67s as against 22.97s earlier in the day.
But compatriot and 100m silver medallist Torri Edwards served notice of her intention to try and upset White when she won her quarterfinal quite easily in 22.66s.
White and Edwards will also face a formidable rival in defending champion Zhanna Block of the Ukraine. Block matched White's timing in winning the fourth and final quarterfinal.
Frenchwoman Muriel Hurtis won the third quarterfinal in 22.70s, and looks certain to make the final along with the two Americans and the Ukrainian.
Veteran athlete and sentimental favourite Merlene Ottey, 43, competing for Slovenia rather than her native Jamaica, was eliminated in Edwards's heat, finishing fifth with a timing of 23.22, well below her personal best of 21.64 achieved way back in September 1991.
The semifinals will take place on Wednesday. The line-up, in order of qualifying times, is:
Torri Edwards | USA | 22.66 |
Kelli White | USA | 22.67 |
Zhanna Block | UKR | 22.67 |
Muriel Hurtis | FRA | 22.70 |
Anastasiya Kapachinskaya | RUS | 22.73 |
Mary Onyali-Omagbemi | NGR | 22.73 |
Anzhela Kravchenko | UKR | 22.81 |
Kim Gevaert | BEL | 22.91 |
Maryna Maydanova | UKR | 22.93 |
Vida Anim | GHA | 22.95 |
Beverly McDonald | JAM | 22.96 |
Natalya Safronnikova | BLR | 22.96 |
Lauren Hewitt | AUS | 23.10 |
Mercy Nku | NGR | 23.16 |
Roxana Diaz | CUB | 23.21 |
Cydonie Mothersill | CAY | 23.29 |
Earlier report: White going for sprint double
Photograph: Getty Images