TOKYO, Japan — Samantha Hall booked her spot in the women’s discus final and all six sprinters secured safe passage to the 100m semi-finals — but not without a bit of a heart-in-mouth moment as Jamaica ended the opening day of the World Athletics Championships with very little blood spilt.

The little that was spilt came from the mixed 4x400m relay team that failed to advance to the final — not too much of a surprise — while Adelle Tracey, still suffering from the effects of a freak accident involving a rogue suitcase, could not progress from the 1500m heats.

Oblique Seville, 9.93 seconds, was the culprit in the 100m heats after having to run his way back into third place and a qualifying position following an uncharacteristically poor start in his heat.

Seville, however, seemed unbothered after the race and promised a more convincing showing in today’s semi-final round.

“There was no scare, it’s just that the person who won ran really fast in the first round. I’m not doubting anyone and their performance, I know it’s just for me to take it one step at a time,” Seville said. “I know that I am in the semi-final and I am going to take it from here and do my best. Things happen, but everything will be fine in the semi-finals and final.”

Still hunting his first individual medal, Seville, one of the favourites for the event, says he is confident in his chances heading into the semi-finals where his biggest challenge should come from the African duo of Letsile Tebogo (Botswana) and Gift Leotlela (South Africa).

“To be honest, nothing has changed with regards to my confidence level and performance. It’s all still there. Yes, it was shaky at the start but I managed to run back and everything is working in my favour,” Seville assured. “I am in good shape and I am really not worried.”

Seville has indeed showed impressive form this season, finishing in the top three of all 10 of his 100m starts this season while posting the sixth-fastest time this season, 9.83 seconds.

Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson threw down the gauntlet with an easy 9.95 seconds win in his heat, confirming the feeling that the world leader (9.75 seconds) is the man to beat in Tokyo. He will have American Kenny Bednarek for company in semi-final two.

Ackeem Blake, 10.07, also made it to the semi-finals without drama, powering out of the blocks and settling into second place behind Noah Lyles, 9.95, who he will again face in the opening semi-final as well as South African Akani Simbine.

The men’s 100m semi-final will face the starter at 8:45 pm on Sunday (6:45 am Jamaica time), with the final set for 10:20 pm (8:20 am).

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson and national champion Tina Clayton are all through to the women’s 100m semi-finals after contrasting results yesterday.

Clayton clocked an easy 11.01-second win in her heat while a relaxed Jackson, 11.04, and Fraser-Pryce, 11.09, finished second in their respective heats. The semi-final will be contested at 8:20 pm (6:20 am) with the final set for 10:13 pm (8:13 am).

In the women’s discus event, Hall produced a strong last effort to secure her spot in the final which is set for 7:12 pm (5:12 am).

“I just had to make it to the final. It’s my third World Championships and I knew I had to make the final — and that’s what I did,” said Hall, who entered the final round outside of the qualifying positions, only to find her best throw on the night, 63.32m, to advance to her first major international final.

Tracey suffered an injury to a toe on her right foot when a suitcase fell on the area, and she could only manage a 4:11.87 run and 13th place in her heat.

There was also disappointment for the mixed 4x400m relay team of Jevaughn Powell, Dejanae Oakley, Zandrion Barnes and Leah Anderson, after they failed to progress with an eighth place finish in 3:13.96.

Also on day one, Ackelia Smith, 6.34m, failed to move on from the women’s long jump heats.

At 6:35 pm (4:35 am) defending 400m world champion Antonio Watson will line up in the heats with Bovel McPherson, Rusheen McPherson, and Delano Kennedy, while Romaine Beckford and Raymond Richards will contest the high jump qualifying, which will start at 6:40 pm (4:40 am).

The women’s equivalent gets going at 7:25 pm (5:25 am) and will see Nikisha Pryce, Stacey-Ann Williams and Dejanae Oakley in action.

Thompson

Tina Clayton

Blake

Seville

Jackson

From left: Jamaica’s Oblique Seville, Britain’s Romell Glave, and South Africa’s Gift Leotlela compete in the men’s 100m heats during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Saturday. AFP

Adele Tracey catches her breath after her 13th-place finish in the heats of the women’s 1500m event. (Photos: Garfield Robinson)