Bennett nearly advances at World Championships

CNMI sprinters Yvonne Bennett and Orrin Pharmin finished their respective races in the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu, Korea with the former almost making it to the next round of the Saturday run.

Bennett timed in at 12.78 seconds in the 100m preliminary run to place fifth on Heat 5, just one notch away from advancing to the second round of the sprint race. Only the Top 4 runners on Heat 5 marched into the next phase of the event.

Malaysia’s Norjannah Hafiszah Jamaludin ruled Heat 5 with her 12.06 seconds. Mozambigue’s Anatecia Quive came in at second with her 12.31 seconds, followed by San Marino’s Martina Pretelli (12.47 seconds), and Macedonia (12.48 seconds).

Despite failing to move into the next round of the 100m run, Bennett still finished ahead of fellow Pacific region runners. She defeated Vanuaty’s Susana Tama (13.29 seconds) and Tonga’s Belinda Talakal (13.73 seconds).

Bennett’s time in Korea was also faster than her World Championship debut in Osaka, Japan (2007) where she posted 13.16 seconds and was ranked seventh among nine runners on Heat 2. The Boise State University track team member also joined the World Championships in Germany in 2009, but got sick and eventually didn’t race.

The CNMI and Micronesian record-holder listed her 2011 and personal best time at 12.37 seconds and though she missed a record in Korea, her 12.78 seconds was better than Heat 4 qualifier Alda Paulo (12.85 seconds) of Angola. Bennett also finished ahead of 15 other runners, as she was ranked 20th overall among 36 participants. Only 35 completed the race, as one runner was disqualified.

Cameroon’s Delphine Atangana logged the fastest qualifying time in the 100m run with her 11.57 seconds.

In the men’s 100m run, Pharmin duplicated his PB after submitting 12.60 seconds on Heat 3. Burkina Faso’s Gerard Kobeane topped the heat with his 10.64 seconds and was followed by Aruba’s Geronimo Goele (10.73 seconds), Singapore’s Foo Ee Yeo (10.76 seconds), Congo’s Delivert Arsene Kimbembe (10.85 seconds), Tonga’s Joseph Andy Lui (11.48 seconds), Liberia’s Bledee Jarry (11.49 seconds), Samoa’s Ah Chong Sam Chong (12.36 seconds), and Pharmin.

Chad’s Abdouraim Haroun had the best qualifying time in the 100m race, tallying 10.44 seconds and leading 12 other runners to the next round.

The two CNMI sprinters were done at the World Championships, as they were entered only in the 100m run. Bennett is expected to return to Boise tomorrow, while Pharmin will return to Saipan this Wednesday.