Kelli White going for sprint double

Defending champion Zhanna Block of the Ukraine, 100m champion Kelli White, runner-up Torri Edwards, and fan favourite Merlene Ottey qualified quite easily for the quarterfinals of the women's 200m event at the Stade de France in Paris today.

The fastest time was set, however, by Frenchwoman Muriel Hurtis, who won the second heat in her season's best of 22.51seconds.

The next best qualifying times were achieved by Anzhela Kravchenko of the Ukraine, who won the fourth heat in a personal best of 22.78s, followed by Nigeria's Mary Onyali-Omagbemi, who won the sixth and last heat in 22.80s.

In comparison, White won her heat (#3) in 22.97s, while Block won the first heat in a slow 23.13s. Edwards was faster than both at 22.83s, but only came second in her heat, which was won by Kravchenko.

The 43-year-old Jamaica-born Ottey, who now competes for her adopted country Slovenia, finished fifth in the sixth heat, but went through as one of the eight fastest losers, getting home in 23.24s.

Susanthika Jayasinghe of Sri Lanka, who had pulled out of the 100m earlier on suffering an injury, dropped out of the 200m as well, ending a very disappointing World Championship for her.

The championship record is still held by Silke Gladisch-Moeller of the former East Germany, who won the event in 21.74s in Rome 1987. The world record is held by the late Florence Griffith-Joyner, who had won the event at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in 21.34s.

Following is the complete list of qualifiers, in order of timing, for the women's 200m quarterfinals later today.

Photograph: Getty Images