Ryan Brathwaite overcame the slowest reaction time in his heat to qualify for this morning’s semi-finals of the men’s 110-metre hurdles at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow.
The Barbadian, the 2009 champion, was the last to leave the blocks in heat one, but ran through the field to take the third automatic qualifying spot in 13.40 seconds.
Reigning world champion Jason Richardson of the United States was first in 13.33 and Russian Konstantin Shabanov second in 13.38.
Greggmar Swift finished seventh in his heat in 13.79 seconds and did not advance to the next round.
Also moving on were Olympic champion Aries Merritt who won his heat in 13.32 seconds; compatriots Ryan Wilson (13.37) and world leader David Oliver who had the fastest qualifying time of 13.05; Olympic bronze medallist Hansle Parchment (13.43) and fellow Jamaican Andrew Riley (13.27) as well as Trinidad and Tobago’s Wayne Davis and Mikel Thomas who clocked 13.38 and 13.41.
Brathwaite has been drawn in lane eight of the first heat alongside Merritt.
It is very competitive as Richardson and Parchment are also there. That race should run at 11:05 this morning, with the final at 1:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, Ramon Gittens bowed out in the semi-finals of the men’s 100 metres. He was seventh in his heat in a disappointing 10.31 seconds.
Kierre Beckles, the last individual Barbadian competitor, will be in the heats of the 100m hurdles on Friday. (SAT)