July 20, 2010
MONCTON, Canada - Texas A&M hurdler Donique' Flemings opened her campaign at the IAAF World Junior Championships with a 13.50 second win in the first heat of the 100 hurdles on the University of Moncton campus.
"I did pretty well, but my start wasn't that good," noted Flemings, who had her first experience with the beep noise used to start international races rather than the louder gunshot high school and collegians are accustomed to in the United States.
"I'm satisfied with the race," added Flemings. "My main goal was to qualify for the next round. I just wanted to get out, and then I knew the rest of the race would be pretty good for me. I want to better by personal best, which is 13.33. So if I can hit that or better, then I'll be happy."
In advancing to the semifinal that will be held at 6 p.m. (CST) on Wednesday, Flemings recorded the third-fastest time among the field of 16 athletes advancing to the next round. The other American hurdler in the field Evonne Britton of Penn State, finished second in her heat with a 13.57.
Flemings, a freshman this past season with the national champion Aggies, claimed the first of four heats and was one of six hurdlers to qualify for the semifinal from that heat. In addition to the top three finishers automatically advancing to the semifinal, three more hurdlers in the first heat advanced on time.
In the men's 1500 a fifth-place finish in 3:45.31 for A&M incoming frosh Henrik Ingebrigtsen of Norway wasn't fast enough to make the 12-runner final. The winning time in the opening heat was 3:41.99, while 3:47.75 claimed the second heat and 3:42.32 topped the third heat. The last mark to advance to the final on time was 3:44.45.