Kaniskina wins walk; Jamaicans, Americans advance in 100m

Berlin - Olympic champion Olga Kaniskina moved ahead early on Sunday to defend her world title in the women's 20 kilometres walk. Kaniskina, 24, was never endangered as she claimed victory in 1 hour 28 minutes 9 seconds at the famous Brandenburg Gate in downtown Berlin in front of another big crowd. Olive Loughnane claimed silver for Ireland in 1:28:58 hours, six years after Gillian O'Sullivan achieved the equivalent feat in the same event. Hong Liu of China was third in 1:29:10 in a hot mid-day event. Kaniskina broke from the pack after the 5km mark and led by 21 seconds at the halfway mark and 56 seconds at 15km en route to her third major title. Loughnane then had the stronger finish than Hong to secure Ireland's sixth medal overall at the athletics worlds. In the sun-flooded Olympic Stadium, the Jamaican and American favourites cruised into the second round of the women's 100 metres sprint. US sprinter Carmelita Jeter led the way with 11.22 seconds in the sun-flooded Olympic Stadium and compatriot 2005 world champion Lauryn Williams had 11.36. Of the Jamaicans, the 2009 world leader Kerron Stward clocked 11.34, title holder Veronica Campbell-Brown 11.34 and Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser 11.41 seconds. 'I controlled the race and that's most important thing right now. I don't know about any rivalry,' said Stewart, who clocked 10.75 seconds last month. Fraser led a Jamaican sweep at the Beijing Games last year which the US team hopes to avenge in Berlin. The second round was set for later Sunday, with the semis and final on Monday. Elsewhere, Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo made the 800m semis while fellow-Kenyan title holder Janeth Jepkosgei required a successful protest to advance after a fall. Plagued by injury early in the season, Jelimo won her heat in 2:03.50 to make Monday's semi-finals along with South African season leader Caster Semenya (2:02.51) and Russian contender Mariya Savinova (2:03.27). Semenya tangled with Jepkosgei in the disputed incident. Jepkosgei trailed in seventh place but IAAF officials granted a Kenyan protest that she was at a disadvantage. They did not disqualify Semenya but she hurt her ankle in the incident and is doubtful. 'I just saw the Kenyan fall down and I tried to jump over. But I twisted my ankle in the process. I will have to see the physio to check. If it is not good I will quit,' said Semenya. There were no surprises in women's shot put qualifying with world and Olympic champion Valerie Vili of New Zealand leading the way with 19.70 metres and expected to dominate the evening final. Czech world and Olympic champion Barbora Spotakova made the discus final with 63.27m, but Russian Maria Abakumova made a big statement with a world leading throw of 68.92m. As expected, the Kenyan quartet of world and Olympic champion Brimin Kipruto, 2004 Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi, Richard Matelong and Paul Kipsiele Koech qualified for Tuesday's final. Jessica Ennis of Britain maintained her big lead in the heptathlon heading into the final events of javelin and 800m. She has 5,064 points to lead from Olympic champion Nataliya Bobrynska and German hope Jennifer Oeser, who are locked on 4,795 points. The blue riband men's 100m final was due to be the evening (and championship) highlight, with triple world champion Tyson Gay of the US hoping to spring a surprise on Jamaican three-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt.