BBC SPORT | Special Events | 2001 | World Athletics

Kelly Holmes kept her World Championship medal hopes alive as she comfortably reached the final of the women's 800m.

The Briton, who claimed bronze at the Sydney Olympics last year, finished second in her semi-final behind Stephanie Graf of Austria.

The first four in each race were guaranteed a place in the final and Holmes, easing up in the final straight, clocked 2:01.90 behind Graf, who finished in 2:01.24.

"I'm very pleased with that race, because I was very nervous beforehand," Holmes, who has struggled with her fitness this season, told BBC TV.

"I wasn't sure how well I'd recovered from the heat yesterday. But I felt really comfortable.

"There was no point in overdoing it and going after Steffi - this race was all about position, not time."

The second heat was won by Olympic champion and gold medal favourite Maria Mutola of Mozambique.

Mutola came home in 1:59.47, ahead of Letitia Vriesde of Surinam.

Gail Devers in action on Friday
Gail Devers wins her heat
Holmes finished behind Mutola and Graf in the Olympic final in Sydney - and she acknowledged that they would again be the athletes to beat.

"When you get to the final, everyone is your rival," she added. "I've got a good chance - but I can only do as much as I can."

Gail Devers confirmed her reputation as favourite for 100m hurdles gold with the fastest time in the semi-finals, 12.56secs.

The American, who has already won more world titles than any other female athlete, is aiming to extend her record tally to six golds.

The main threat to Devers in Saturday's final would appear to come from Svetla Dimitrova of Bulgaria, who won the other heat in a time of 12.65.