DOHA, Qatar — Lady Tiger great Lolo Jones is off to a fast start in defense of her World Indoor crown as she cruised into the semifinals of the 60-meter hurdles at the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships by winning her qualifying heat Friday with an opening time of 7.95 seconds.
It proved to be the second-fastest time of the preliminary round as Jones was one of 16 qualifiers accepted into the semifinal round to be run at 7 a.m. CT on Saturday. The final will follow at 9:25 a.m.
“Indoors it’s all about having a good start,” Jones said after winning her preliminary race. “I can manage after the last hurdle with my speed, but before that, I need a smooth race. I think I will be better with each race here. There is some pressure to be the title defender.”
Jones is the reigning World Indoor champion in the 60-meter hurdles after winning the event crown at the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Valencia, Spain. Jones enters this year’s competition as the second-fastest hurdler in the world this season with a seasonal-best time of 7.85. Jones finished runner-up with a silver medal in the event at the USA Indoor Championships just two weeks ago.
Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Canada boasts the No. 1 performance in the world for the indoor season at 7.82 and finished Friday’s preliminary round with the qualifying time of the day at 7.94.