Trammell eyes second medal, Russians get going

MOSCOW, Mar 11 (Reuters) American Terrence Trammell got his bid for a second medal at the world indoor championships off to a flying start today by winning his 60 metres hurdles heat.

The small Russian crowd were also given plenty to cheer about with qualification success for world 1,500 metres indoor record holder Yelena Soboleva and long jumper Tatyana Kotova.

But defending champion Igor Pavlov failed to make the men's pole vault final only managing 5.55 metres.

The home fans could have more reason to cheer later today with hot favourite Yelena Isinbayeva in the pole vault, triple jumper Tatyana Lebedeva and world 3,000 metres record holder Liliya Shobukhova in action.

Russia's world outdoor silver medallist Kotova surpassed the automatic qualifying distance of 6.55 metres in the long jump with her first effort of 6.73.

She will battle it out with Tianna Madison, who surprisingly beat her to gold at the world championships in Helsinki last year, after the American qualified with a leap of 6.60.

Trammell, bronze medallist in yesterday's 60 metres final, eased up on the line to win his hurdles heat in 7.64 seconds.

''It wasn't too much of a disappointment,'' Trammell told reporters in reference to his bronze medal. ''I just had to get back and get focused on my other race.'' Jamaica's Michelle Freeman, who at 36 is the oldest woman in the field, was quickest in the first round of the women's event in 7.90 seconds.

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