Marc Burns was the lone T&T sprinter to qualify for the semifinals on the first day of action of the 13th IAAF World Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Atakoy Athletic Arena in Istanbul, Turkey. The 29-year-old sprinter won his heat in 6.69 to advanced to today's semis set for 10.30am local time. Burns beat Justyn Warner of Canada for the top spot (6.75) in heat five as the top two automatically qualified for the semis. Guyana's Jeremy Bacom was third in 6.90 and advanced to the next round as one of the fastest losers. Burns clocked the sixth fastest time with former champion, Justin Gatlin (USA), and Spaniard Angel David Rodriguez both recording the top time of 6.64. Another former winner Dwain Chambers, clocked the next fastest time (6.65) with French man Emmanuel Biron and Simone Collio of Italy behind on 6.68. In today's semis Burns will line up in lane five if the third heat. He will come up against American champion Trell Kimmons, Rodriguez and Warner and will be aiming for a top two spot to advance in the finals later today. The finals are expected to take off at 1pm. Burns' run was the lone success for T&T contingent on day one as Jamaal James, Lalonde Gordon, Jarrin Solomon and Aleesha Barber all failed to get past their heats.
James was first in action and finished third in heat five of the men's 800m preliminaries in 1:52:71, but only the top two were assured a place in the semifinals. James was the 22nd quickest overall and missed out as only the top 18 advanced. Gordon was the third athlete to cross the line in heat number three in 47.75, but was disqualified after a lane infraction. In heat four, Solomon was also third in 47.82, behind Gil Roberts of the USA (47.57) and Valenin Kruglyakov of Russia (47.70) but his time was 19th quickest overall and missed out qualifying by 0.04 seconds. Bahamian Demetrius Pinder was the fastest qualifier clocking 46.49 to take heat one with favourite Kirani James of Grenada next fastest (46.64). Barber bowed out in the women's 60m hurdles heats taking fifth in 8.35. World Outdoor champion, Sally Pearson (Australia), won in the fastest time of 7.85. Gordon and Solomon will return to the track today along with Renny Quow and Jereem Richard in the heats for the 4x400m relay. The quartet will compete in the second of two heats at 4.32 pm. The team will be aiming for a top two finish to advance to tomorrow's finals. The local boys will do battle with Great Britain, Russia, Poland, Ukraine and Czech Republic. The finals are set for Sunday, the final day of the meet, at 10.40am. T&T has won two silver medals at the global indoor meet: Ian Morris-men's 400m (46.09) Hungary in 1989, and the men's 4x400m team of Morris, Alvin Daniel, Neil De Silva and Dazel Jules in 3:07:02.
RESULTS
Men 60m Heats
5 Marc Burns 1h
800m Heats
22 Jamaal James 1:52:71 3h5
400m Heats
19 Jarrin Solomon 47.75 3h4
Dq Lalonde Gordon heat 3
Women 60m hurdles Heats
26 Aleesha Barber 8.35 5h1