Stratton into final as Beahan and Jenneke qualify for semi-finals

On the penultimate day of the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019, Athletics Australia athletes claimed places in the Long Jump final and 100m hurdles semi-finals.

There were differing fortunes for the two Brianna’s in Heat Two of the 100m hurdles.  While a false start saw Olympic champion Brianna Rollins disqualified, Australia’s Brianna Beahan secured her spot in the semi-finals with a fourth-place automatic qualifier in 13.11.

“It was good to get out there and get the rust out and now much more to give for the semi,” said Beahan.  “I’m really happy with my start, it’s probably the best I’ve executed my start in a long time.  I think I hit the fourth or fifth hurdle, and that wrecked my rhythm a little bit. But I kept my composure and I finished strong.  I think if I can have a clean race I definitely should be under 13 seconds.”

In the fastest qualifying heat in World Championship history, Michelle Jenneke finished in seventh place with a season’s best of 12.98, a time which would be quick enough to see her through to the semis – her third World Championship semi-final in a row.

“I knew it was going to be fast, I looked at it and thought I have the heat of death,” said the Rio Olympian.  “But it’s going to push you to fast times, which is what it did there.  It didn’t feel very fast and it’s still a season’s best and the first time under 13 seconds this season.  I am really happy with that and I know I have lots to improve on.  This was the fastest I’ve ever run at a World Championships and I’m excited to see what I can run tomorrow.”

Celeste Mucci finished sixth in her heat with a time of 13.14, narrowly missing out on one of the fastest qualifiers spots.

Finishing in the top 12, Brooke Stratton navigated her way through Saturday’s qualification to make tomorrow’s Long Jump final with a best distance of 6.58m, which put her in ninth spot across both groups.

Both the men and women’s 4x400m relay squads also saw action on Day Nine of Doha 2019.

Despite a season’s best, the women’s quartet of Bendere Oboya, Lauren Boden, Ellie Beer and Rebecca Bennett would miss out on a place in the final after finishing their heat in fifth place with a time of 3:28.64.

The men’s four saw Steve Solomon, Alex Beck, Murray Goodwin and Ian Halpin clock a time of 3:05.49 for eighth place in Heat One.

Still to come at 23:59 (06:59 AEST), Julian Spence will be the final athlete to compete along the waterfront of Doha's Corniche in the men’s marathon.