All 5 runners disqualified from 400 heat at world indoors
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) All five runners in a 400-meter heat were disqualified from their race Friday at the world indoor championships.
Abdalelah Haroun, a Qatari who won bronze at last year's world championships, was first to leave after a false start.
Bralon Taplin of Grenada then finished first in the heat but officials later disqualified him, Steven Gayle of Jamaica, Austris Karpinskis of Austria and Alonzo Russell of the Bahamas for running out of their lanes.
The IAAF said it was the first time in history that every runner in a world championship race has been disqualified.
''I don't know quite what happened but it is OK,'' said Haroun, who finished second at the last world indoors. ''I will have more chances.''
The Grenada team appealed the decision, saying Taplin was already on a straight line and therefore didn't create an advantage, but it was rejected.
Czech runner Pavel Maslak finished second in his 400 heat as he chases a third straight world indoor title in the event.
Also, Yorgelis Rodriguez of Cuba took the lead in the women's pentathlon after three of five events.
Rodriguez threw 14.15 in the shot put on her third attempt to move 13 points ahead of Katarina Johnson-Thompson of Britain. Ivona Dadic of Austria is a point further back.
Erica Bougard was fastest in the opening 60-meter hurdles race, beating American teammate Kendell Williams by 0.01 seconds. Johnson-Thompson then cleared 1.91 meters in the high jump to briefly take the lead.
The final two events, the long jump and 800 meters, will be later Friday.
Kevin Mayer of France leads Damian Warner of Canada by 45 points after three of seven events in the heptathlon.
