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 The four-times Olympic and eight-times world champion, who has
enjoyed most of her success in shorter sprints, coasted across the
line in 50.60 seconds on the third morning of action at the iconic
Bird's Nest stadium.
"It felt good. Good to get the first one under me. Just keep moving
on," Felix told reporters.
"I just wanted to be able to control it (the race) early and try to
get through as comfortable as possible."
With reigning Olympic champion Sanya Richards-Ross not taking part
in China after failing to make it through the U.S. trials, Felix
faces competition from 2008 Beijing Games winner Christine Ohuruogu
(51.01) of Britain and Bahamian teenager Shaunae Miller (50.53), who
both won their opening heats comfortably.
The crowd interest, though, concentrated on the long jump qualifiers
where Wang Jianan (8.12 meters), Gao Xinglong (8.11) and Li Jinzhe
(8.10) were all just shy of the 8.15m qualifying mark but easily
made Tuesday's final in fourth, fifth and sixth.
The same could not be said for promising American Marquis Dendy, who
could only muster a best of 7.78 meter effort after his final jump
of well over eight meters was crossed off after a narrow foul he
initially disputed.
South African Zarck Visser, who produced an 8.41m effort last month,
also failed to make it through after the African champion could only
register a 7.79m on Monday.
There were no such problems for Pan American Games champion Jeff
Henderson of the United States, who nailed a solid 8.36m opening
effort to lead the way ahead of the final on Tuesday evening.
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"I did on my first try, it's great," he said.
Olympic champion Greg Rutherford also made it a comfortable morning,
the Briton registering an 8.25m jump to finish just behind the
American.
"The qualification showed me we are on the right way," he said. "I
think we will need to show a big performance over 8.50 to fight for
the gold. Jeff Henderson will attack it for sure."
Elsewhere, Olympic champion Jenn Suhr safely negotiated the
qualifiers of the women's pole vault by clearing 4.55 meters at her
second attempt, while Cuba's Denia Caballero (65.15 meters) pipped
Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic (64.51) in the discus qualifiers.
(Writing by Patrick Johnston in Singapore; editing by Amlan
Chakraborty)
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