All the big names in the women’s 100m progressed safely through the World Championships first round on Sunday, with the remarkable Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce looking in great form again as she seeks her sixth title at the age of 36.

The Jamaican, who had an injury-hit first part of the season, blasted out of the blocks and eased home in 11.01 seconds.

Jamaica has taken gold in six of the last eight 100 metres finals — five to Fraser-Pryce — but compatriot Shericka Jackson is probably favourite to extend that domination in Budapest.

Last year’s silver medallist and reigning 200m champion, the season leader with 10.65 seconds, was in cruise control from the start in winning her heat in 11.06.

American Fred Kerley will not be defending his men’s world 100 metres title after he failed to progress from the semi-finals, as his compatriots Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman qualified fastest for the final.

Season’s best jump

Ivana Vuleta of Serbia won the women’s long jump, soaring 7.14m, the best jump in the world this season. The 33-year-old bronze medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics secured the victory on the fifth of her six jumps.

Tara Davis-Woodhall of the US captured the silver with a leap of 6.91m,
while Alina Rotaru-Kottmann of Romania jumped 6.88m for the bronze medal.

Spanish delight

Maria Perez completed a Spanish double in the 20 km race walk after comfortably beating Australia’s Jemima Montag to win the women’s event on Sunday, with Antonella Palmisano of Italy taking bronze.

Defending champion Kimberly Garcia Leon of Peru led a breakaway group that at the halfway mark included Perez, Montag, Olympic champion Palmisano and Yang Jiayu of China, the 2017 winner and current world record holder.

But Perez, like compatriot Alvaro Martin in the men’s event on the opening day of the championships on Saturday, pulled away with around 5km remaining and crossed the line in one hour, 26 minutes and 51 seconds.

Indians disappoint

Indian athletes’ disappointing show continued on the second day with Santhosh Kumar Tamilarnsan and Sarvesh Anil Kushare crashing out in the 400m hurdles heats and high jump qualification round, respectively.

Tamilarnsan finished seventh in heat No.3. Kushare failed to clear 2.25m in three attempts and finished 11th in qualification round Group B and 20th overall.

Three Indians brought up the rear in the men’s 20km race walk final. Shaili Singh failed to make it to the women’s long jump final. Ajay Kumar Saroj, in men’s 1500m, failed to make the semis, while none of the three in the men’s triple jump — Praveen Chithravel, Eldhose Paul and Abdulla Aboobacker — made it to the final round.

PTI