BEIJING, China – Jamaica’s Kaliese Spencer easily won her 400 metres hurdles heat at the World Championships here on Sunday.
Spencer covered her opponents by the 300 metres mark to enter the straight well clear and cruised to victory in 55.04 seconds as Sparkle McKnight of Trinidad and Tobago finished second in 55.77.
The other automatic qualifiers from the heat were Elise Malmberg of Sweden who finished in 55.97 and Egle Staisiunaite of Lithuania who did a personal best of 56.17.
Jamaica’s Janieve Russell ran a good home stretch to hold off the challenges of Denia Rosolova of the Czech Republic and win her heat in the 400 metres hurdles in 55.09 seconds.
Rosolova doing 55.33. Petra Fontaive of Switzerland was third in 56.40 and Shamier Little of the USA fourth in 56.47.
Tracey out 400 metres hurdles
Jamaica’s Ristananna Tracey finished seventh in her 400 metres hurdles heat and crashed out of the event.
Tracey stopped the clock at 57.60 seconds, well behind the winner, Cassandra Tate of the United States of America who did 54.27 seconds. Wenda Nel of South Africa was second in 54.45 with Megan Beesley of Great Britain and Stina Troest of Denmark third and fourth in 54.52 and 55.56.