Beenamol in semifinals

By Our Special Correspondent

EDMONTON, AUG. 6. Despite finishing fifth in her heat, K. M. Beenamol squeezed herself into the semifinals of the 400 metres as one of the `fastest losers' on the third morning of the World championships here on Sunday.

Drawn in the heat headed by Mexican Ana Guevara, one of the favourites for the title, Beenamol tried to match the Mexican, running inside her, and thus set too hot a pace for herself over the first 200 metres. Yet, she came through the home bend without losing her poise and did not tighten up too much on the straight.

The others, however, had plenty in reserve with Guevara winning in 50.99, the joint second best timing behind German Grit Breuer's 50.77 in the opening round heats. Beenamol clocked a season best of 52.17 as against her previous best this season of 52.66s clocked in the Federation Cup at Bangalore.

The Kerala girl was not sure whether she would have made it as one of the fastest losers, but felt immediately after the race that but for the pacy 200, she might have been able to place better. Delighted to be chosen for the Arjuna award, a news she learnt through the internet only yesterday, Beenamol has matched her semifinal entry at the Sydney Olympics. However, here she has made it after just one round. She is only the second Indian, after P. T. Usha, to have crossed a round in the World championships. Usha made the semifinals in the 400m hurdles in the 1987 championships in Rome.

In the semifinals to be run in three heats on Monday, Beenamol has been drawn with Sandie Richards of Jamaica, Monique Hennegan of the U.S. and Falilat Ogunkoya of Nigeria. Also in the heat is Amy Thiam Mbacke of Senegal, who clocked a 50.99 in the heats. Asian champion Damayanthi Darsha of Sri Lanka, who also qualified as a fastest loser (52.21s), will be in the semifinal heat that will feature Breuer.

Marion Jones had a fumble after the start in her opening round heat in the 100 metres. But the American superstar still clocked an outstanding 10.93s to lead the qualifiers into the next round.``I was anxious to go, sitting at home, watching the guys run yesterday'' said Jones. ``I was talking to Tim (Montgomery) yesterday and he said the starter holds you up for long. This must be the longest ever I have been in the blocks.''

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