Josephine Onyia of Spain became the fastest qualifier to enter the semi-finals of women's 60 meters hurdles on Saturday morning at the ongoing IAAF World Indoor Championships in Valencia, Spain.
Onyia, 21, sprinted to heat victory in a time of a 7.84 seconds, a personal best to lead the field for the semi-finals, which will be held at 18:10 (1710 GMT) on Saturday.
Onyia, who was second in the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuggart, Germany, last September in the 100 meters hurdles, had a perfect indoor season so far this season, winning the European Athletics Indoor Cup in 60 meters in 7.93 seconds in February.
"I hope to run faster later on today and maybe get a record," Onyia told reporters. "I feel I could have run a 7.80 as I came off the final hurdle a little bad, but now I just want to run stronger later today."
Susanna Kallur of Sweden came in second in the heats competition, clocking in 7.87. She was followed by Cuban Anay Tejeda in 7.93.
Kallur started the indoor meet a red-hot favorite after setting a new world record of 7.68 last month in Karlsruhe, Germany. She is unbeaten in nine 60 meters hurdles races this season and holds the fastest five times in the world this year. She was third in the Moscow World Indoor Championships.
"I don't know if I will break my world record this evening. ButI would like to get the victory like in the European Indoor Championships in Madrid three years ago," said the Swede.
The final of the event will be held at 20:15 (1915 GMT) on Saturday.
Source: Xinhua
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