London, England — Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson eased into the semi-finals of the 100m at the 16th IAAF World Athletics Championships inside the Olympic Stadium with a most relaxed 11.05 seconds (0.8m/s), as Jura Levy, Simone Facey and Natasha Morrison all safely navigated their way to the semi-finals.

Thompson , the double Olympics sprint champion, looked serene and won heat two with consummate ease in wet condition, in the fifth-fastest time on the day.

Crystal Emmanuel of Canada was second in 11.14secs, with American Arianna Washington third with 11.28secs. The promising Khalifa St Fort of Trinidad and Tobago was fifth in 11.44secs and failed to advance.

Just as quickly as she won her race, Thompson skipped by the media without giving a comment and went back to the training facility where coach Stephen Francis was waiting.

The three other Jamaicans failed to win their heats but were through to the semi-finals. Levy, running in heat one, was third in 11.09secs (1.3 m/s) behind Germany’s Gina Luckenkemper, who clocked 10.95secs, the fastest of the day. Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast was second in 11.04secs.

The diminutive but powerful Levy was pleased with her time, which was close to her personal best of 11.06secs.

“I am pleased with the time. It wasn’t the best reaction, but I got going and it’s my second-fastest time, so I’m very pleased with that, but my starts need to get better,” she noted.

“I am hoping to fix that start and make it to the final,” she added.

Facey was fourth in heat five in 11.29secs (-0.1 m/s) with Rosangela Santos of Brazil first in 11.04secs. Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye was third in 11.14secs.

Veteran Facey said she felt flat and didn’t execute the way she wanted, but promised to show marked improvement in the semi-finals.

“I wasn’t aggressive and I figured that so early in the morning this was going to happen. It takes a while for me to get going this time of the morning, so I was a little flat,” noted Facey.

“But at the end of the day I still get to qualify. It’s not the big Q, but who cares? Everybody will start on the same line. It’s a 100m, so I am just happy to be in the next round,” said Facey.

Morrison also advanced from heat six placing third in 11.21secs (0.6 m/s). The race was won by Daryll Neita of Great Britain in 11.15secs ahead of American Deajah Stevens in 11.17secs.

Morrison, who made the final in Beijing two years ago, said she was not happy with her start.

“I am happy because the condition, it was not what I was looking forward to, but I am happy that I finished in the top three,” said Morrison.

“I think that I am not executing my race how I should, but I just have to work on it,” she added.

“In 2015 I represented it and 2016 I had a bad hamstring injury. I am coming back, so I am really pleased and happy to where I am right now,” Morrison noted.

Morrison, who said she has recovered from two hamstring injuries, believes she can get back to her best form of 2015 when she ran 10.96secs.

“I know I can get back as long as I execute my race the way I should,” Morrison pointed out.

The semi-finals are set for 1:10 pm Jamaican time and Thompson has been drawn in lane four of semi-final two along with Desiree Henry, Crystal Emmanuel and Ariana Washinston.

Simone Facey and Jura Levy are in semi-final one and will match strides with Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Dafne Schippers, Dar and Marie-Josee Ta Lou.

Morrison is drawn in lane eight in semi-final three and is pitted against Tori Bowie, Gina Luckenkemper, Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, Murielle Ohoure and Michelle-Lee Ahye.

— Howard Walker