#BEIJING2015: Jaw-dropping 400m heats highlight morning session
BEIJING, China – Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald turned in a jaw-dropping performance and lowered the national 400-metre record to 43.93 seconds, becoming the first Jamaican to dip below the 44-second barrier.
McDonald, who finished second behind winner Yousef Masrahi of Saudi Arabia with identical times, said he was disappointed with his first 300 metres.
“It was poor for me because I never followed my coach’s instruction, because if I followed my coach I would have run way faster,” said McDonald.
McDonald was followed by compatriot Javon Francis and Peter Matthews into the next round. Francis, running out of lane eight, ran 44.83 seconds for second behind Lashawn Merritt in 44.51 seconds.
Matthews, running in heat one, finished fourth in 44.69 behind American David Verburg who won in 44.43 seconds.
Meanwhile, defending champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce cruised into the semi-final of the 100m with the joint fastest time of 10.88 seconds as all four Jamaicans advanced to the semi-finals.
Natasha Morrison was second in heat two in 11.08 seconds behind Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria with 11.07 seconds, while Veronica Campbell-Brown also eased into the finals finishing second in 11.04 behind American Tori Bowie in 10.88 seconds.
Sherone Simpson clocked 11.22 to finish third behind Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Trinidad and Tobago, and is safely through to the semi-final.
Earlier O’Dayne Richards qualified for the final of the men’s shot put, finishing fourth with a throw of 20.55m in Group B. That group was won by David Storl of Germany with 21.26m.
Richards will enter the final with the sixth best throw, which is headed by American Joe Kovacs with 21.36m.
Two of Jamaica’s four 400m female hurdlers advanced to the semi-finals in Kaliese Spencer and Janieve Russell. Ristananna Tracey and Shevon Stoddart both failed in their efforts.
Spencer won heat one in 55.03 seconds while Russell won heat five in 55.09 to be sixth and seventh fastest into the next round. American Cassandra Tate was quickest with 54.27.
Heptathlon competitor Salcia Slack did 5.54m in the long jump, collecting 712 points, and 36.11m in the javelin, picking up another 593 points for a total of 1,305 from two this morning’s (last night Jamaica time) two events. She is currently 28th overall with 4,720 points with one event remaining.
For blow-by-blow coverage of the 15th IAAF World Championships from #Beijing2015 follow @ObserverLiveHoward Walker
