Joyce Zachary shattered Kenya’s previous record in 400m after running 50.71 seconds to qualify to the semis at the National Stadium in Beijing, China. The previous Kenya record of 51.71 was set by Ruth Waithera's in 1984.

Zachary and Maureen Jelagat, who also set her personal best (51.40) stormed into semis in the early morning heats. Another Kenyan, Jacinter Shikanda was, however, not lucky after she was disqualified for line infringement.

Zachary said; "I was not expecting a national record here. It came as surprise to me. I had a slow start and was only expecting to improve my personal best. My target now is to reach the finals."

She came second in her heat, which was won by Jamaica's Christine Day in 50.58. Jelagat finished fourth but qualified among the best losers attribute improvement to a training stint in Germany. Britain's Christine Ohuruogo won the heat in 51.01.

In 3, 000m steeplechase, Kenya's trio of Virginia Nyambura, Hyvin Jepkemoi and Rosefline Chepng'etich all eased into tomorrow's finals. Chepng'etich was placed third in her heat after posting a personal best of 9:25.91. The heat was won by Tunisia's Habiba Ghribi in 9:24.38.

Ghribi is the world leader and the Olympic silver medallist. Nyambura finished second in her heat timed at 9:28.50, behind Hiwott Ayelew (9:25.55). USA's Stephanie Garcia taking the third in 9:29.34.

"I wanted to save energy for the final. I didn't see the reason why I should chase Ayelew because I knew I had qualified," he said.

The 2011 All Africa champion and current world number two Jepkemoi, won her heat 9:26.19 and was trailed in second place Ethiopia's world and Olympic bronze medallist Sofia Assefa in 9:26.47 while Emma Coburn settled for the third position in 9:27.29. "Ethiopians are our biggest challengers but we will plot how to approach the race as a team and beat them," she said.