EUGENE, Ore., (Reuters) – South African world record-holder Wayde van Niekerk made a confident return to the World Championships yesterday, easing through his 400 metres heat, as a trio of Americans also advanced.
Rio Olympic champion and twice world champion van Niekerk set a speedy pace through the first half of the track but slowed through the finish to win, conserving his energy a year after he failed to reach the final in Tokyo, citing mental struggles.
Americans Michael Norman and Champion Allison, the only men to break 44 seconds this season, faced little threat in Eugene, Oregon, as the action carried on under scorching sun.
Norman, who suffered a hamstring injury in Doha and failed to reach the podium in Tokyo, looked comfortable on the springy Hayward Field track, easing up through the final metres to cheers from the home fans as he aims to turn around his run of tough luck.
Making his world debut, the 23-year-old Allison easily rolled through to Wednesday’s semi-final.
Compatriot Michael Cherry, a relay champion in Tokyo and Doha, also went through.
Three times Olympic medallist Kirani James of Grenada advanced along with Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori, who produced the fastest time of the day with 44.87, a personal best.
The event kicked off without the reigning Olympic and world champion Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas, who is sidelined with injury.
On the women’s side, Jamaican Stephenie Ann McPherson produced the fastest time in 50.15, as Bahamian Olympic champion and 2019 silver medallist Shaunae Miller-Uibo rolled through to Wednesday’s semi-final with a comfortable win.
Marileidy Paulino and Fiordaliza Cofil also advanced after collecting mixed-relay gold on Friday for the Dominican Republic.
Reigning champion Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain is serving a two-year ban for an anti-doping violation for missing out-of-competition tests.
