BEIJING -- Team USA advanced all track qualifiers from Monday’s morning session, as well as six field event athletes, as 12 will continue on at the 15th IAAF World Championships at Beijing National Stadium.

Team USA advances all six steeplers for first time in World Champs history

The trio of American women’s steeplers joined their male counterparts in advancing to the finals in full for the first time in World Championships history. Stephanie Garcia (Charlottesville, Virginia) had a strong first heat, nabbing the final automatic qualifying spot in 9:29.34. Emma Coburn (Crested Butte, Colorado) matched Garcia’s placing in heat three, finishing third in 9:27.19 for the third automatic spot. NCAA champion Colleen Quigley (St. Louis, Missouri) was the final on-time qualifier after her 9:29.09 sixth-place finish in the second heat.

Henderson looks poised for impressive performance in finals

Jeff Henderson (North Little Rock, Arkansas) was the first athlete to automatically qualify for Tuesday’s long jump final, utilizing his second attempt to jump 8.36m/27-5.25 and emerge as the top qualifier. Mike Hartfield (Manchester, Connecticut) also advanced to Tuesday’s final, just missing an automatic qualifying mark with his leap of 8.13m/26-8.25. Hartfield will head into the finals as the third best jumper from the qualifying round. Seven-time NCAA champion Marquis Dendy (Middletown, Delaware) had a tough time in the pit Monday, turning in only one legal jump of 7.78m/25-6.25, which did not qualify him for the final.

American trio advances to 400m semis

Allyson Felix (Los Angeles) led wire-to-wire in her heat of the women’s 400m, winning easily in 50.60. Phyllis Francis (Queens, New York) ran an easy pace alongside Jamaica’s Stephenie Ann McPherson with Francis finishing just behind McPherson in 50.52. Natasha Hastings (Brooklyn, New York) led for much of the second heat but faded in the final 20 meters. Hastings held on for the final automatic qualifying spot as she crossed in 51.25. All seven American quartermilers advanced to the semifinals after Team USA went four-for-four in the men’s preliminary rounds.

Vaulters Morris and Suhr advance to final

Rookie Sandi Morris (Greenville, South Carolina) and Olympic champion Jenn Suhr (Fredonia, New York) advanced to Wednesday’s final, as both Americans cleared 4.55m/14-11. Morris on her third attempt to qualify for the final, while Suhr only needed two tries to clear 4.55m to move on. NCAA champion Demi Payne (New Braunfels, Texas) did not advance after clearing 4.30m/14-1.25.

Lewis-Smallwood and Ashley move on to discus finals

A showdown with World and Olympic champion Sandra Perković is in the cards as two Americans advanced to the finals of the women’s discus throw. Gia Lewis-Smallwood’s (Champaign, Illinois) first throw of 62.04m/203-6 was her best, qualifying her easily for Tuesday’s final. Whitney Ashley (Riverside, California) made the final from Group A, tossing 60.88m/199-9 on her opening throw to advance. Birthday girl Shelbi Vaughan (Mansfield, Texas) threw a best of 60.24m/197-7 on her first attempt and did not qualify for the final.

The action continues in Beijing with Monday’s evening session and runs through Sunday, August 30.

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Full results from the IAAF World Championships can be found here.

Team USA Medals

Gold (1)

Joe Kovacs - Shot Put (21.93m/71-11.5)

Silver (1)

Justin Gatlin - 100 Meters (9.80)

Bronze (2)

Trayvon Bromell - 100 Meters (9.92)

Michelle Carter - Shot Put (19.76m/64-10)

Broadcast Schedule