Ohuruogu and Idowu reach finals

ATHLETICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Venue: Olympic Stadium, Berlin Date: 15-23 August
Coverage: Watch the action live and highlights on BBC Two, BBC HD, Red Button, Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website (video for UK users only)
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Christine Ohuruogu (left) finishes second behind Sanya Richards in their 400m semi-final

Ohuruogu (left) ran her best time this season but was the slowest qualifier

Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu had to work hard to secure her place in the 400m final at the World Championships.

The defending champion left it late to finish second in her semi-final in a season's best 50.35 seconds behind favourite Sanya Richards (50.21).

Five women including Jamaican Shericka Williams (49.51) went under 50 seconds as Briton Nicola Sanders missed out by one spot despite a season's best 50.45.

Phillips Idowu progressed to the triple jump final with a leap of 17.32 metres.

The Olympic silver medallist opened with an effort of 17.10 but passed the qualifying mark with his second attempt, Beijing gold medallist Nelson Evora leading the early qualifiers for Tuesday's final with 17.44.

I have booked my place in the final and anything is possible

David Greene

"It was alright," Idowu said. "I took it little bit too easy on the first one, and I wanted to get it over and done with.

"I feel good. I haven't jumped for a couple of weeks so it was good to get a couple of jumps out.

"My running was nice, it felt smooth. Let's see how it holds together when I pick it up a bit on Tuesday."

Welshman David Greene produced a brilliant personal best of 48.27 seconds to finish second behind American Bershawn Jackson (48.23) and reach the 400m hurdles final on Tuesday.

Greene is now fourth on the British all-time list behind Chris Rawlinson, David Hemery and Kriss Akabusi.

"I have never been as nervous as this for a long time and the nerves are making me run faster," Greene said.

"I have booked my place in the final and anything is possible. It's all to play for."

American Kerron Clement will start favourite for the final after winning the first semi-final in 48.00, with the great Felix Sanchez also qualifying in 48.34.

British trio Jemma Simpson, Jenny Meadows and Marilyn Okoro all qualified for the 800m semi-finals earlier on day two in Berlin.

It's my fault for not tying my laces properly but I felt good and it was just a case of being strong and qualifying

Jemma Simpson

Simpson and Meadows were both second in their 800m heats, while Okoro put in a battling finish to come through in third place.

"I hate the first round - you get so many nerves - but all the British girls deserve to be in the semis," said Meadows.

Simpson, who won last month's trials in Birmingham, revealed: "My shoe came loose at 400m but thankfully stayed on.

"It's my fault for not tying my laces properly but I felt good and it was just a case of being strong and qualifying."

Defending world champion Janeth Jepkosgei of Kenya looked to have missed out after she tripped and fell but she was added to the list of semi-finalists after an appeal.

Javelin star Goldie Sayers failed to reach the final after only managing 58.98m in qualifying.

Sayers, who finished fourth at the Olympics, has struggled this year with a spinal injury.

"I'm annoyed with myself. It just wasn't good enough, to be honest," she told BBC Sport.

"I slipped with my left foot in the first round and lost my confidence.

"I felt great but it's been one of those years where I've been overcoming adversity the whole time."

Brit Andy Turner is rated "highly doubtful" for the 110m hurdles, which start on Wednesday, after suffering a hamstring tear in training.

Turner, who won the event at the European Team Championships in June, has spent the season aiming to bounce back after seeing his central funding cut during the winter.

Meanwhile, on the roads around Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, Russia's defending champion Olga Kaniskina won the women's 20km walk title, beating Ireland's Olive Loughnane. Great Britain's Johanna Jackson was disqualified for lifting.

New Zealand's Valerie Vili became the women's world shot put champion with a best throw of 20.44m ahead of German Nadine Kleinert (20.20) and China's Gong Lijiao (19.89).

Jamaica looked strong in qualifying in the women's 100m semi-finals, with Kerron Stewart clocking 10.92 seconds and defending champion Veronica Campbell-Brown 10.99s.

Carmelita Jeter of the United States split the Jamaican duo with a time of 10.94s in the final heat.