Jamaican women advance to finals on day one of World Indoor Championships

Photo: Kalise Spencer (file)

Both Jamaican women advanced to the finals of the 400m on day one of the World Indoor Championships in Sopot Poland.

Photo: Kalise Spencer (file)

Both Jamaican women advanced to the finals of the 400m on day one of the World Indoor Championships in Sopot Poland.

In heat one, Patricia Hall won in a time of 52.82 to beat off the challenge of home town girl, Justyna Swiety of Poland.  In heat two, Kalise Spencer produced a personal best performance of 51.58 to finish second behind race winner Francena McCorory of the USA.

Jamaica suffered mixed fortunes in the women’s 60 meter hurdles, as while Monique Morgan ran a personal best of 8.10 to qualify for the semifinals, Indira Spence was not so lucky as she missed out on a place in the next round when she stopped the clock at 8.14. Favourite to win the event, Sally Pearson of Australia, equaled her season’s best of 7.79 to lead all the challengers into the semifinals.

Nesta Carter 6.58 and Kimmari Roach 6.59 both advanced to the second round of the men’s 60m. Carter finished third heat four while Roach was second in heat two.

Damar Forbes finished 15th in the first round of the men’s long jump with his longest distance being 7.69m. This was not enough for him to advance to the final.

The men’s 400m which was the last event of the day was bad for both Jamaican athletes. Edino Steele was disqualified from heat one and Akheem Gauntlett was a disappointing sixth in heat two with a time of 47.13.