Walker takes spotlight before sprinters

OSAKA, Japan – Hours ahead of the most anticipated, and fastest, event of the IAAF world championships, Jefferson Perez made sure today the slow walk had its moment in the scorching sun.

Perez became the first man to win three successive 20-kilometer walk titles, enough to make him a star in his native Ecuador. Together with the 1996 Olympic title, the 33-year old became a quadruple gold medalist at major competitions.

“I knew I could be the first with three consecutive golds but shortly after the start I forgot about this – I needed to concentrate,” he said.

In comparison, Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay are still looking for their first global title. Based on Saturday’s heats, it is likely one of the two will succeed in earning a first gold.

Powell looked far more comfortable during his heat with his blazing starts and relaxed finishes, while Gay continued to struggle with his moves out of the blocks, forcing him to push much longer in the heats.

Neither Powell nor Gay, though, will be able to relax during the semifinals early this evening, just two hours before the final at the Nagai Stadium. Competition will be too fierce.

In the women’s 100 heats, Veronica Campbell cruised into the second round with a time of 11.33 seconds, hardly breaking a sweat in temperatures which soared into the high 80s.

Her main rival for the title, U.S. champion Tori Edwards, won her heat in 11.14, easing up at the finish.

“I feel confident I can take this thing, the track is fast,” she said. “It’s hot, but sprinters like the hot weather.”

Defending champion Lauryn Williams was second in her heat with 11.41 to advance.

In the heptathlon, Sweden’s Carolina Kluft was poised to stretch her five-year unbeaten streak and add an unprecedented third straight heptathlon title.

After Saturday’s four events, Kluft totaled 4,162 points, holding a big lead over Lyudmila Blonska of Ukraine, the season’s top performer, who has 4,014. Britain’s Kelly Sotherton has 3,989. Diana Pickler (Washington State) was in 25th place with 3,510 points.

On top of that, today started out with the long jump, Kluft’s favorite event. The heptathlon ends with the javelin and the 800 late today.

In the women’s shot put, defending champion Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus only squeezed into the final as the last qualifier and avoided elimination by 5 centimeters.

Reese Hoffa won the men’s shot put on Saturday to lead a 1-2 American finish.