Sherone Simpson (left) and Aleen Bailey finish first and second respectively in their 100 metres semi-final event.
-Reuters photo
Elton Tucker, Assistance Sport Editor
ATHENS, Greece
SHERONE SIMPSON was the happiest Jamaican in Greece last night. She could not control her glee after winning her second round heat to lead three Jamaicans into today's semi-finals of the women's 100 metres at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
A fourth Jamaican, the evergreen 44-year-old Merlene Ottey now running in the colours of Slovenia, also made it through to the last 16 of the event.
In between shrieks of joy 20-year-old Simpson said her race was perfect.
"I felt good, I came out well and I drove and I won. Oh! I am so happy," Simpson said.
She paid tribute to Ottey.
"I never dreamt of the day that I would run with Merlene. I am happy that I kept my composure and it paid off."
The former Manchester High student, now attending the University of Technology (UTech), clocked 11.09 seconds to beat compatriot Aleen Bailey, 11.12 and Ottey, 11.24.
CAMPBELL SECOND
National champion Veronica Campbell, 11.18, was second in second round heat one, which was won in 11.10 by pre-Olympic favourite Christine Arron of France. In this heat 1992 and 1996 Olympic champion Gail Devers of the United States was fourth in 11.31. She just got the last semi-final spot ahead of Russia's Irina Khabarova (11.32). Only the first three in each heat and the next four fastest advance to the semi-finals.
Like she did in the morning's first round when her time was 10.94, Belarusian Yuliya Nesterenko again went under 11 seconds. This time she led all semi-final qualifiers with 10.99 in winning heat four. American Lauryn Williams took heat two in 11.03 with Bulgaria's Ivet Lalova, the fastest woman in the world this year at 10.77, getting second in 11.09.
Earlier in the women's 100m opening round Bailey won heat one in 11.20, Campbell won heat six in 11.17 and Simpson was second in heat four in 11.27 behind Russia's Yuliya Tabakova's 11.22.
In today's semi-finals Campbell is again drawn with Arron and Devers in heat one while Simpson and Bailey will oppose American Lauryn Williams and Ottey in the second semi-final.
MEN'S 400
Davian Clarke, Brandon Simpson and Michael Blackwood also advanced to today's semi-finals of the men's 400 metres.
Running in heat one Clarke went out fast but could not hold the powerful late run of Grenada's Alleyne Francique, one of the pre-meet favourites. Francique won in 45.33 with Clarke second in 45.54.
Simpson (45.61) had a close duel with American Derrick Brew in heat four before the latter prevailed in 45.41.
Blackwood had little difficulty in advancing to the semi-finals with the third fastest time. He easily shrugged off the challenge of Saudi Arabia's Hamdan Al Bishi to win heat seven in 45.23. Al Bishi clocked 45.31.
Hot favourite for the event, American James Wariner, eased to an effortless 45.56 in heat six. Drawn in lane eight Wariner went clear of his rivals before almost coming to a stop 10 metres out. He was still three metres ahead when he hit the line. Germany's Ingo Schult was second in 45.88.
The fastest semi-final qualifier was Chris Brown of The Bahamas who won heat two in a season-best 45.09 from American Otis Harris, 45.11.
BALLENTINE IN SEMIS
Michelle Ballentine advanced to her first Olympic 800 metres semi-final with a third place finish in last night's heats. Better known as a relentless front runner Ballentine kept behind the pace in heat three and ran on strongly in the final 50 metres to clock 2:01.52 behind winner Kelly Holmes 2:00.81 and Jearl Miles Clarke 2:01.33.
The women's 800m semi-finals will also be run today.
The fastest 800 metres semi-final qualifier was Romania's Maria Cioncan with a personal best of 1:59.64. Race favourite Maria Mutola of Mozambique was second in heat one in 2:01.50 behind Morocco's Hasna Benhassi, 2:01.20.
