Russian Tatyana Firova leads the women's 400m semi-final in Doha (© Getty Images)
Natalya Nazarova’s bid to become the event’s first three-time winner came to an end while her compatriot Tatyana Firova stamped her authority as the favourite to win her first in the semi-finals of the 400m.
Debbie Dunn, the World leader at 50.86 from her win at the US championships at altitude last month in Albuquerque, led the for much of way in the second of two semis to in handily in 52.08, a relatively slow requirement to advance to her first World indoor final.
“It was a tough day with two races,” said Dunn. “I thought I would be more challenged. I am trying to go for the gold, but so is everybody else.”
Bulgaria’s European outdoor champion Vania Stambolova was second in 52.30 and African champion Amantle Montsho of Botswana, third in 52.34, her second national record of the day. Nazarova, mistiming her kick, finished a distant fourth in 52.47. She’ll take to the track again on Sunday, where she and her Russian teammates will be the team to beat in the 4x400m Relay.
Like Dunn, Firova wasn’t particularly challenged in the first heat, winning comfortably in 51.36.
“It felt lighter and easier compared to this morning’s race,” said Firova, who has a career best indoors of 51.22. “I needed to start fast and control the race, so the plan was fulfilled. In the final I will start fast again, but I think that will be the aim of all the others as well.
Jamaican Novlene Williams-Mills was next to the line, clocking a 51.77 season’s best.
“Running two 400s in a day, that’s hard!” said the Jamaican, the 2007 World bronze medalist and fifth place finisher at the World indoors in 2006. “I wanted to make it to the final so I just kept going with the race whatever time it would take. Hopefully I can get a PB in the final.” That target for the 27-year-old is 51.25 from 2006.
Alianne Pompey of Guyana was third in 52.29 to nab the third qualifying spot.
Dunn and Firova will start in lanes five and six in Saturday’s final, with Williams-Mills and Stambolova in three and four, and Pompey and Montsho in one and two.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
Debbie Dunn, the World leader at 50.86 from her win at the US championships at altitude last month in Albuquerque, led the for much of way in the second of two semis to in handily in 52.08, a relatively slow requirement to advance to her first World indoor final.
“It was a tough day with two races,” said Dunn. “I thought I would be more challenged. I am trying to go for the gold, but so is everybody else.”
Bulgaria’s European outdoor champion Vania Stambolova was second in 52.30 and African champion Amantle Montsho of Botswana, third in 52.34, her second national record of the day. Nazarova, mistiming her kick, finished a distant fourth in 52.47. She’ll take to the track again on Sunday, where she and her Russian teammates will be the team to beat in the 4x400m Relay.
Like Dunn, Firova wasn’t particularly challenged in the first heat, winning comfortably in 51.36.
“It felt lighter and easier compared to this morning’s race,” said Firova, who has a career best indoors of 51.22. “I needed to start fast and control the race, so the plan was fulfilled. In the final I will start fast again, but I think that will be the aim of all the others as well.
Jamaican Novlene Williams-Mills was next to the line, clocking a 51.77 season’s best.
“Running two 400s in a day, that’s hard!” said the Jamaican, the 2007 World bronze medalist and fifth place finisher at the World indoors in 2006. “I wanted to make it to the final so I just kept going with the race whatever time it would take. Hopefully I can get a PB in the final.” That target for the 27-year-old is 51.25 from 2006.
Alianne Pompey of Guyana was third in 52.29 to nab the third qualifying spot.
Dunn and Firova will start in lanes five and six in Saturday’s final, with Williams-Mills and Stambolova in three and four, and Pompey and Montsho in one and two.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
