Asian Championship gold medallist Chaminda Wijekoon shattered Sri Lanka’s only hope at the 13th IAAF World Championships when he finished one before the last in his men’s 1,500m second semi final worked off at the Daegu Stadium here today.
Competing in semi final two of the men’s 1,500, the 29-year-old champion Lankan middle distance runner failed to maintain his fine form in the qualifying round and finished 12th. By the halfway mark of the race, Wijekoon was way behind the others and the 10m gap looked an uphill task for him to bridge.
“I have been nursing an injury in the left foot and that did not permit me to have my normal run. Nevertheless, I am happy with my performances in Daegu as I failed to better by Sri Lanka record in heats and run under 3/40,” Wijekoon said after the race. His timing of three minutes and 44.81 was nowhere near his Sri Lanka record of 3:39.61 achieved two days ago.
Reigning Olympic champion Kiprop Asbel won this heat in 3.33.11. The first men’s 1,500m heat was won by American Matthew Centrowitz in 3:46.66. The men’s 1,500m final is scheduled to be worked off on Saturday night at 8.15 p.m. locals time – 4.45 p.m. SL time.
Meanwhile, American Carmelita Jeter kept her dreams of a sprint double arrive, clocking 22.47 to win the first semi final of the women’s 200m worked off today. Jeter, who emerged the fastest woman at the Daegu 2011 World Championships by clocking 10.90 to win the 100m gold, is now only a step away from that elusive sprint double.
Finishing second behind Jeter was former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sherone Simpson of Jamaica in 22.88 seconds. But Jeter’s American team mate Shalonda Soloman was one hundredth of a second faster in winning heat two returning a timing of 22.46. Jamaican Kerron Stewart, the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, came second in 22.77.
Nevertheless, Jeter’s real challenger would be Jamaican Veronica Cambell who won the third race in 22.53 seconds. Defending champion Allyson Felix, who is gearing to win her third successive World Championship gold in women’s 200m and the 2008 Olympic silver medallist clocked 22.67 to secure the second place.