Hejnova on course for another world 400m hurdles title

Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Women's 400 Metres Hurdles Semi-Final - London Stadium, London, Britain – August 8, 2017. Zuzana Hejnova of Czech Republic celebrates winning the semi-final heat. REUTERS/Phil Noble

LONDON (Reuters) - Defending champion Zuzana Hejnova signalled her intent to win a third successive 400 metres hurdles world title after qualifying fastest for the final at the World Championships on Tuesday.

The Czech won her opening heat comfortably in a time of 54.59 seconds ahead of Kori Carter of the U.S. who will compete in her first world senior final on Thursday.

Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Women's 400 Metres Hurdles Semi-Final - London Stadium, London, Britain – August 8, 2017. Kori Carter of the U.S. and Zuzana Hejnova of Czech Republic react after the semi-final heat. REUTERS/Phil Noble

American Dalilah Muhammad, the Olympic champion, ensured her place in the London Stadium showpiece with a run of 55.00, just ahead of Canada’s Sage Watson.

Jamaica’s Ristananna Tracey and Switzerland’s Lea Sprunger also made it safely through and there was joy for the home crowd as Briton Eilidh Doyle qualified via one of the fastest non-automatic places, along with Cassandra Tate of the U.S.

Athletics - World Athletics Championships – women’s 400 hurdles metres semi-final – London Stadium, London, Britain – August 8, 2017 – Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic reacts after the heat. REUTERS/Phil Noble

(Editing by Ed Osmond)

Athletics - World Athletics Championships – women’s 400 hurdles metres semi-final – London Stadium, London, Britain – August 8, 2017 – Kori Carter of the U.S. and Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic compete. REUTERS/John Sibley

Athletics - World Athletics Championships – women's 400 metres hurdles semi-final – London Stadium, London, Britain – August 8, 2017 – Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic and Kori Carter of the U.S. compete. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson