There was no drama in the women’s 400-metre heats at the IAAF as favourite, the Bahamas’ Shaunae Miller-Uibo, trotted through the first round of heats to make the semi-final, while Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson and Stephenie-Ann McPherson did just enough.
Sada Williams of Barbados, running in the first heat of the 400s this morning was second in a pedantic 52.14 seconds but was certain of qualification with the first three through as automatic qualifiers.
The United States’ Phyllis Francis won the heat in 50.77 seconds, while the Czech Republic’s Lada Vondrová was the third qualifier in 52.23 seconds.
The United States kept winning heats on Monday, as Wadeline Jonathas, 50.57, won heat 2 ahead of Jackson, 51.13.
Jackson never seemed to push herself very much but did enough to pull a personal best 51.21 from Australia’s Bendere Oboyo.
Sakima Wimbley was another winner for the United States but had to file an appeal to escape a disqualification that, on the face of it, looked pretty harsh.
McPherson clocked 51.21 seconds to finish behind the personal best of Botswana’s Galafele Moroko, 50.59. Guyana’s Aliyah Abrams with 51.73 qualified from a non-automatic spot, finishing fourth in the heat behind Nigeria’s Favour Ofili.
Miller-Uibo has not finished behind anybody this year and she seems keen on keeping things that way, but she still didn’t extend herself very far in stopping clock at 51.30 seconds, to better France’s Déborah Sananes and Kenya’s Mary Moraa.
Miller-Uibo’s major challenge is expected to come from Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, who won heat six on Monday and hardly looked bothered either.
Naser strolled to 50.74 seconds, slower than Miller-Uibo but also well ahead of the field headed by Poland’s Justyna Święty-Ersetic, 51.34, and mexico’s paola morán, 51.58.