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Britain's women sprinters keeping pace

08/08/2006

It has been a good morning on the track for Britain's women 100m sprinters with all three representatives easing their way into the second round heats.

Day two started particularly promisingly for veteran sprinter Joice Maduaka, who stormed through her opening heat with the second fastest time of the session.

Her 11.24secs was fractionally off her personal best and was beaten only by the overwhelming favourite, Belgian ace Kim Gevaert, who clocked 11.19secs.

Maduaka will be joined in the second round by fellow Britons Anyika Onuora, who ran 11.38secs, and Emma Ania, who just qualified with a 11.41secs.

The morning session was not so enjoyable for Belarussian star Yuliya Nesterenko, the only runner with a sub-11 second time on her record.

Nesterenko, along with Gevaert, had been among the bookies' favourites for the gold this week but she laboured through with a time of 11.33secs.

Round two starts at 16:40 BST today.

Meanwhile, Kelly Sotherton kept up the pressure on Carolina Kluft in the heptathlon as they finished second and first respectively in the long jump.

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