Ahoure Gets Her First Gold, DQs Aplenty: World Indoor Play-By-Play
Ahoure Gets Her First Gold, DQs Aplenty: World Indoor Play-By-Play
Murielle Ahoure's gold medal in the women's 60m was the highlight of the second day of action at the IAAF World Indoor Championships.
Murielle Ahoure's gold medal run capped off the second day of competition at the IAAF World Championships. In the field events, there was a historic long jump competition between Juan Miguel Echevarria, Luvo Mayonga and Marquis Dendy. Below is recap of the action from Friday evening, replete with great performances and more disqualifications.
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Women’s 60m Hurdles Heats | 6:05 PM GMT (1:05 PM ET)
First 4 in each heat plus the next 4 fastest
Heat 1
Nelvis glides over all five hurdles and wins in 7.97. She led from the gun and shut down after she cleared the final hurdle. Bendrat takes second in 8.06 and Neziri and Boons claim the other auto qualifying spots.
Heat 2
Manning gets out to a strong start and opens up a lead on the field. Pedersen runs well during the middle of the race to move into a clear second place. Manning eases off at the finish which allows Pedersen to win the heat 7.93 to 7.96. The time is a personal best for Pedersen.
Heat 3
Charlton and Roleder separate from the group by the second hurdle. The two remain close for the duration of the heat and Charlton gains the slightest advantage to win in 7.95. Roleder takes second in 7.97.
Heat 4
Hello, Keni Harrison. The world record holder isn't waiting around. She bolts from the blocks and puts this race away early. She runs all the way through the line in 7.78. All three Americans are through to the next round.
Heat 5
If there is someone who could break up the US sweep, it might be Sally Pearson. The reigning world champion got a great start out of the blocks and was joined by Amusan. Amusan gets past Pearson at the line, but the two are clearly the class of the field.
Overall Results
Women’s 60m Semifinals | 6:50 PM GMT (1:50 PM ET)
First 2 in each heat plus the next 2 fastest
Heat 1
This heat was completely loaded with perhaps the four of the five favorites for gold all in the same heat. Ahoure gets the best start and holds on for victory in a world-leading 7.01. Thompson gets the second, and final, auto qualifying spot ahead of Schippers and Oliver. Schippers couldn't quite recover from a slow start, but her mark may get her through on time.
Heat 2
The Ivory Coast keeps rolling as Ta Lou makes it back-to-back wins for the west African country. She got off to a good start and opens up a decent margin on the rest of the field, winning in 7.15. Burchell and Ahye both run 7.15 have run a dead heat. What does the rule book say about this? This track only has 8 lanes....
Heat 3
Another close race in the third heat. Kambundji navigates the race the best, winning in 7.10. Zahi narrowly gets the final qualifying spot over Carina Horn, 7.17 to 7.18.
Overall Results:
There are 9 qualifiers listed as of this writing.
Update, new results have been posted and Oliver is no longer listed as a qualifier.
Men’s 800m Heats | 7:13 PM GMT (2:13 PM ET)
First 2 in each heat plus the next 2 fastest
Heat 1
Emmanuel Korir's absence looms large as there are only 10 men left in this field. Mohamed gets out to the early lead and takes the field through 400m under 51 seconds. Windle sits in his usual position in the back. Mohamed slows and De Arrriba, Giles and Windle give chase. Windle looks to have second place secured, but De Arriba makes a move all the way from third to first to win the heat ahead of Elliot. Windle runs a personal best to finish third and will have to watch the clock in heat two.
Heat 2
Gakeme takes the early lead and takes the field through a comfortable first 400m. Brazier moves up from fourth to second in the second lap and by the bell lap Brazier is at the front with Kszczot. On the backstretch of the final lap. Ordonez gets past Brazier and Brazier appears to lose his momentum. Smali also goes past Brazier as Kszczot continues to lead. At the line, Kszczot does enough to win the heat and Smali squeezes past Ordonez for the final auto qualifying spot. Brazier takes fourth.
Overall Results
Windle does make it through on time. Brazier gets disqualified for stepping over the break line, although he would not have qualified based on time.
Women’s 1500m Heats | 7:42 PM GMT (2:42 PM ET)
First 2 in each heat + next 3 fastest
Heat 1
Early on in the race there's some jostling in the pack as the field all works for position. The pace isn't pedestrian, but it isn't enough to drop anyone from the field. Praught finds herself at the front of the pack at the halfway mark with Dibaba and Muir toward the front of the pack. With three laps to go Dibaba takes the lead and Muir follows her. Dibaba is at 3:04 with 400m to go and builds an comfortable gap on Muir. Muir can't quite shake Praught who looks like she might be able to catch Muir in the last 200m. Dibaba coasts to victory and Muir keeps Praught at bay for second.
Heat 2
Chepkoech goes to the lead early and takes the field through 400 meters in 66 seconds and 800m in 2:14.85. The pack is still tightly bunched behind her until Quigley and Bahta tangle and Bahta goes down on the track. Chepkoech remains in front and is never threatened. Quigley makes a late push to get past Van Buskirk for the second auto qualifying spot.
Heat 3
Hinriksdottir tows the field through 800 meters in 2:12 with the entire field behind her. With 3 laps remaining, Hassan takes the lead and is followed by Chebet. They stay in those positions until the second to last lap when Seyaum makes a huge move to get into the front of the pack. Houlihan and Arafi join those three at the bell. Hassan counters with 150 meters remaining as Seyaum is out of gas. Hassan takes the victory with Chebet second, Arafi third and Houlihan fourth. Both will advance on time.
Overall Results
Note: Meraf Bahta has been advanced to the final after falling in her heat
Women’s 800m Pentathlon | 8:17 PM GMT (3:17 ET)
Dadic leads the field through 400m in 1:07. With 300 meters remaining, Johnson-Thompson bolts to the front and is followed by Dadic and Rodriguez, the three women who are in contention for the gold. Johnson-Thompson has a final burst and the finish to win the race and take gold in the pentathlon. Americans Bougard and Williams finish the competition in fifth and ninth.
Results
Women’s 400m Semifinal | 8:32 PM GMT (3:32 PM ET)
First 2 in each heat advance to final
Heat 1
Only the top two qualify so there is no margin for error. Wimbley gets the pole position at the 200m mark and looks very strong. Sprunger sits in second and is a stride behind Wimbley with 100 meters remaining. Wimbley's lead holds and Sprunger is a comfortable second place.
Update: Sprunger is listed as a DQ on the final results.
Heat 2
McPherson has an easy time getting to the pole and she had a nice cushion on the rest of the field. Her victory in this heat is assured and the crowd's attention is turned to Brit Zoey Clark's chance at a top two finish. She is locked in a tight battle with Swiety-Ersetic to the line, but Clark comes up just short. But when official results are posted McPherson is listed as a DQ so both women advance.
Heat 3
After a first 200m of 24.48 Okolo slides into the pole position after the bell. Belimpasaki gives chace, but is never able to seriously threaten the American. Okolo takes the heat and will advance to victory as Belimpasaki sets a personal best for second, but is later DQ'd in the final results.
Overall Results
Men’s 400m Semifinal | 9:06 PM GMT (4:06 PM ET)
First 2 in each heat advance to final
Heat 1
Javon Francis grabs the early lead, but the group is bunched at the bell. Aldrich Bailey runs on the should over Francis as the pack enters the backstretch on the final lap. Luguelin Santos is also in the group and is well positioned to just squeak past Bailey at the line. Santos and Bailey (46.31 and 46.33) receive the two auto qualifiers to the final.
Heat 2
Oscar Husillos of Spain and Cherry of the US are 1-2 at the bell. Together they separate away from the group and are never under threat. Husillos runs 45.69 to set a national record. Cherry runs 45.73 for second place and safe passage to the final.
Heat 3
Maslak gets off to a great start, but Lendore makes an aggressive move at the 200m mark to get the bell. The two men stick close to one another in the second lap and are joined by Luka Janezic. Janezic can't close the gap in the homestraight and Maslak cross the line first while raising his hand in 46.32. Lendore takes second and is in to the final with a 46.33.
Women’s 60m Final | 9:38 PM GMT (4:38 PM ET)
Ahoure gets off to a great start and has a lead halfway through the race. The gap only grows over the final meters and she has gold in 6.97. Ta Lou makes it 1-2 for Ivory Coast as she runs 7.05 for silver. Kambundji of Switzerland also runs 7.05 and gets bronze, while Elaine Thompson finishes fourth.