OSTRAVA, Czech Republic - Jordan Hasay's first international race went just fine.

The Arroyo Grande resident and Mission Prep junior-to-be eased into the girls 1,500 meters final at the World Youth Championships by winning her heat Wednesday at the Vitkovice Arena track.

Hasay cruised to a 4:26.06 in the first heat. Rei Ohara of Japan and Kenyan Sheila Chepkirui Kiprotich qualified just behind Hasay in 4:26.17.

The final is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday night (10:30 a.m. PDT).

Hasay has the fastest 2007 time of anyone in the girls 1,500 field, the 4:16.98 she ran to win the U.S. Junior Nationals meet at Indianapolis June 23. That mark is the fourth-fastest 1,500 ever by a U.S. high school girl, just behind Kim Gallagher's leading 4:16.6.

Her 4:16.98 also made Hasay the fastest 15-year-old girls 1,500 runner in the world this year. The time would have been good for sixth place at the 2007 NCAA Division I championships.

Hasay has four national titles, two in cross country, two in track.

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Kenyan Sammary Cherotich won a fast second heat Wednesday in a personal-best 4:19.64. Hasay ran the fourth-fastest time overall.

Hasay's personal best is third on the Youth world list for 2007. The top two runners, including leader Emebt Etea of Ethiopia (4:08.50), are not in the Ostrava field.

World Youth Championships girls 1,500 world record holder Kiprotich, however, is. She set the standard of 4:12.29 at the meet at Marrakesh, Morocco last year. Her best 2,007 mark is well off that, 4:24.70.

Ling Zhang of China holds the girls Youth world record at 3:54.52.

Linlin Cong of China is another runner who figures to contend for the title Friday. She has a best of 4:18.98 this year, and she qualified easily Wednesday.

The USATF originally invited Hasay to compete in the 3,000 at the WYC. She became the first girl ever to meet the U.S. standard with her 9:26.32 at Stanford last year. However, the USATF asked her on June 23 if she wanted to race in the 1,500 at Ostrava, and Hasay eventually opted for the shorter race.

Hasay is well under the “B” standard of 4:19.50 for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials. If there are not enough “A” standard runners to fill out the 30-runner field, those who meet the “B” standard will be invited.

Thus, Hasay will be gunning Friday to move up a few more notches among the Trials hopefuls. Based strictly on fastest time, she is 27th now. The qualifying window closes next June.

Kenyan Mercy Cherono shattered the old girls WYC 3,000 record with her victory in 8:53.94 Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Californian Ashton Purvis who will be a sophomore at Elizabeth High School in Oakland next school year, moved easily into the girls 100 final. She was second in her semifinal heat Wednesday.

July 12, 2007