Jamaican Powell moves through to Blue-Ribbon Semis

Athletics Day One - Heats Wrap

Jamaican world record holder Asafa Powell barely raised a sweat in moving through to the semi-finals of the blue-ribbon men’s 100m event on the first day of the athletics competition at the MCG.

He’ll be joined tomorrow night by all three competing Australian men, Joshua Ross (10.23), Patrick Johnson (10.33) and Ambrose Ezenwa (10.47), though the locals will have to lift if they want to progress through to the finale.

Crowd favourite Powell, returning from a groin injury, burst out of the starters’ blocks before easing his way to the line in 10.29 and looks to have plenty of speed left in the legs. Similarly, his teammate Michael Frater (10.25), coasted through his round two heat and the pair appear set to battle for gold on Monday evening.

Nigeria’s Uchenna Emedolu heads the list of sprinters through to the semi-finals, running a rapid 10.15, with England’s Athens Olympic relay gold medallist, Marlon Devonish, just behind in 10.21.

In the women’s 100m, Australia’s only competitor, Sally McLellan, won heat one in 11.51 and safely advanced as the ninth-fastest qualifier. Jamaican Sheri-Ann Brooks (11.30) and Cameroon duo Delphine Atangana (11.35) and Leonie Mani (11.40) top the qualifiers for the event.

Australia’s Tamsyn Lewis and Rosemary Hayward have both secured a place in the semi-finals of the women’s 400m following this afternoon’s initial heats.

Lewis recorded a time of 53.21, slightly slower than Hayward’s 52.90, but she was pleased enough with her performance.

“I think I went out way too slow, but I just made the semis at the Commonwealth Games, of course I’m happy,” she said. “I hope to make the final, my goal and my coach’s goal is that I make it and get a PB (personal best).”

Hazel Regis of Grenada qualified fastest in 51.47, ahead of Jamaica’s Novlene Williams (51.51), with the event’s Olympic champion, Tonique Williams (52.58), comfortably making it through to the next stage.

Qualification for the men’s shot put also got underway this morning and it was an Australian leading the way. 23-year-old Scott Martin, was one of just two competitors- South Africa’s Janus Robberts being the other- to throw more than 19 metres and is an excellent medal prospect for the final on tomorrow night.

In the only field gold medal awarded on the opening day at the MCG, Sunette Viljoen from South Africa won the women’s javelin throw with a season best 60.72m, ahead of Bahamas’ Eve Laverne (60.54m) and Jamaican Olivia McKoy (58.27m).

Australian Kimberley Mickle put herself into position for a medal with one throw left, but couldn’t improve on her best throw of 58.18m and had to settle for fourth place. Countrywoman Kathryn Mitchell (55.22) finished two spots further back in sixth.

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