Pozzi speeds through to semi-finals

ATHLETICS

STRATFORD hurdler Andrew Pozzi clocked the fastest time as he progressed through the first stage of his bid for glory in the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham.

The Team GB co-captain qualified fastest for tomorrow’s men’s 60 metres hurdles semi-finals in 7.53 seconds – a season’s best – at Arena Birmingham.

European indoor champion Pozzi was joined in the next stage by team-mate David King.

The 25-year-old Pozzi, who has ended fourth twice in the world indoors, finished ahead of 2012 Olympic 110m hurdles champion Aries Merritt in his heat. Konstadinos Douvalidis, of Greece, was third in 7.66.

All the main medal contenders progressed into the semi-finals, which are due to start at 3.05pm.

Olympic finalist Milan Trajkovic, of Cyprus, came within one hundredth of a second of his recent national indoor record with 7.56 to claim the opening race, while French champion Aurel Manga ran 7.62 for the runner-up spot.

USA’s Jarrett Eaton – fourth at the 2016 edition of these championships – registered 7.56 to take the second heat. Cuba’s Roger Iribarne sped to a 7.59 lifetime best for second place behind Eaton while world bronze medallist Balasz Baji also advanced, clocking 7.66 in third.

Ahmad Al-Molad, of Saudi Arabia, was timed at 7.63 to win the third heat from Jamaica’s Ronald Levy (7.65) while two-time world indoor silver medallist Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, of France, claimed the fifth heat in 7.62.