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White going for sprint double

Last updated on: August 26, 2003 23:28 IST

Defending champion Zhanna Block of the Ukraine, 100m champion Kelli White, runner-up Torri Edwards, and fan favourite Merlene Ottey qualified quite easily for the quarterfinals of the women's 200m event at the Stade de France in Paris today.

Kelli WhiteThe fastest time was set, however, by Frenchwoman Muriel Hurtis, who won the second heat in her season's best of 22.51seconds.

The next best qualifying times were achieved by Anzhela Kravchenko of the Ukraine, who won the fourth heat in a personal best of 22.78s, followed by Nigeria's Mary Onyali-Omagbemi, who won the sixth and last heat in 22.80s.

In comparison, White won her heat (#3) in 22.97s, while Block won the first heat in a slow 23.13s. Edwards was faster than both at 22.83s, but only came second in her heat, which was won by Kravchenko.

The 43-year-old Jamaica-born Ottey, who now competes for her adopted country Slovenia, finished fifth in the sixth heat, but went through as one of the eight fastest losers, getting home in 23.24s.

Susanthika Jayasinghe of Sri Lanka, who had pulled out of the 100m earlier on suffering an injury, dropped out of the 200m as well, ending a very disappointing World Championship for her.

The championship record is still held by Silke Gladisch-Moeller of the former East Germany, who won the event in 21.74s in Rome 1987. The world record is held by the late Florence Griffith-Joyner, who had won the event at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in 21.34s.

Following is the complete list of qualifiers, in order of timing, for the women's 200m quarterfinals later today.

Name Country Time
Muriel Hurtis FRA 22.51
Anzhela Kravchenko UKR 22.78
Mary Onyali-Omagbemi NGR 22.80
Torri Edwards USA 22.83
Cydonie Mothersill CAY 22.84
Anastasiya Kapachinskaya RUS 22.90
Kim Gevaert BEL 22.92
Kelli White USA 22.97
Aleen Bailey JAM 22.98
Lauren Hewitt AUS 23.01
Maryna Maydanova UKR 23.03
Vida Anim GHA 23.08
Beverly McDonald JAM 23.11
Joice Maduaka GBR 23.11
Zhanna Block UKR 23.13
Mercy Nku NGR 23.17
Svetlana Goncharenko RUS 23.18
Debbie Ferguson BAH 23.18
Natalya Safronnikova BLR 23.20
Jacqueline Poelman NED 23.22
Merlene Ottey SLO 23.24
Karin Mayr-Krifka AUT 23.25
Sylviane Felix FRA 23.29
Sharon Cripps AUS 23.29
Abiodun Oyepitan GBR 23.30
Anna Pacholak POL 23.39
Johanna Manninen FIN 23.43
Allyson Felix USA 23.46
Geraldine Pillay RSA 23.47
Roxana Diaz CUB 23.47
Digna Luz Murillo COL 23.48
Fabienne Feraez BEN 23.85

Photograph: Getty Images

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