The women start Speed qualification ahead of crowning their winners later today
Olympic champion Aleksandra Miroslaw was far and away the fastest climber in the women’s Speed qualification and heads the field going into tonight’s final in Seoul.
With 6.08s quickest time is in first position from the 42 climbers that started qualification, with even her ‘slowest’ run of 6.14s still some way ahead of second placed Deng Lijuan whose time was 6.49s.
Jeong Jimin is the home countries hope, and she posted a time of 6.54s for third in qualification. She will be hoping some home support will spur her on for a podium later today.
With climbers from Poland, China and South Korea occupying the top seven positions, the next country represented is the USA with Isis Rothfork in eighth.
Talking about qualification Rothfork said: “Qualification went well, both of those times were my comp PR’s and that’s what you want in a round. And I love the wall, almost the best wall I’ve climbed on before.”
Those comp PRs, or personal best times were 6.78s and 6.79s. Explaining how they were so close Rothfork said: “My reaction times were kind of atrocious so that helped to get my times closer, but for me it’s just about climbing more. I’m fairly new to Speed, if you look at the other climbers I’ve been climbing Speed less than they have been, so for me it’s about the repetition on the wall and doing more comps.”
With a quick turnaround for the final, preparation is different for everyone, and talking about hers Rothfork said: “I’ll take a nap, get hydrated and just enjoy it. I’ve never qualified in the top eight before so it’s a different result and I will have to see how I handle it and how finals go.”
There are more Asian and USA climbers than European in the final, but those Europeans include Olympian Capucine Viglione, Spain’s Beatrice Colli and Spanish pair Leslie Romero Pérez and Carla Martínez Vidal.
The climber in 16th spot was Japan’s Koyamatsu Ren with a time of 7.18s. That time also saw some surprises with the likes of Emma Hunt missing out after a fall and a time of 7.82s.
Full women's Speed qualification results can be found here
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