Athletes from Ethiopia and Kenya dominated the first round of the women's 5000-metre heats in Sydney on Friday. They took five of the 12 top places to move ahead to the next round, while African runners were also well represented in the qualifying rounds of the men's and women's 400-metre races.
Worknesh Kidane of Ethiopia ran her heat in 15:08.62 seconds to take second place, while compatriot Gete Wami came third in her heat with a time of 15:08.92 seconds. Lydia Cheromei of Kenya qualified with a time of 15:09.32 seconds.
Rose Cheruiyot of Kenya won her heat in 15:13.18sec, followed by Ayelech Worku of Ethiopia (15:13.26sec). Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya also qualified (15:11.11sec).
In the men's 400-metre heats, where American Michael Johnson is a leading candidate for the gold medal, runners from Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda qualified to move through to the quarterfinals. The fastest time was achieved by South African Hendrick Mokganyetsi (45.22sec), followed by Eric Milazar of Mauritius (45.66sec).
Other qualifyers: David Kipkorir Kirui of Kenya (45.69s), Arnaud Malherbe of South Africa (45.75s), Sunday Bada (45.75s) and Jude Monye of Nigeria (45.79s), Soufiene Labidi of Tunisia (45.84s), and Davis Kamoga of Uganda (45.92).
Amy Mbacke Thiam of Senegal won her women's 400m heat in 51.79 seconds, and Charity Opara of Nigeria hers in 51.77 seconds. Claudine Komgang Fotsing of Cameroon came in third, with a time of 51.74 seconds, in the heat which Australian favourite Cathy Freeman won.
Others who qualified to go through were Mireille Nguimgo of Cameroon (51.88s), Heide Seyerling of South Africa (51.92sec), Nadjina Kaltouma of Chad (52.34s) and Olabisi Afolabi (51.61s) and Falilat Ogunkoya of Nigeria (51.88s).
Maria Mutola of Mozambique ran 800 metres in 1:59.88 seconds to win her heat, and Hasna Benhassi of Morocco also qualified to move through to the next round, with a time of 2:00.50 seconds.
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In tennis, top South African professional Amanda Coetzer and her teammate Liezel Horn crashed in the first round of the women's doubles to a Hungarian team, but men's fifth seeds David Adams and John-Laffnie de Jager caused an upset to beat a Russian team in the men's doubles and move through to the quarterfinals.
Ryk Neethling of South Africa qualified for the men's 1500-metre swimming final.
