Danvers joins stars in hurdles final

Deon Hemmings crosses the line

Olympic champion Deon Hemmings cruised through her semi-final of the 400m hurdles - but it was Irina Privalova who stole the limelight.

Privalova, new to the event after a successful career at 200m, won the second race in a time of 54.02secs to send an unmissable message to Jamaican Hemmings.

And there was joy for Britain's Natasha Danvers as she qualified for the final with an excellent run in the semi.

Privalova: Ominous form

Danvers, former European U-23 champion, came in third despite starting in the outside lane.

American world record-holder Kim Batten could only trail in fifth in the same race.

But world champion Nouzha Bidouane put her poor showing in the heats behind her to clock 54.19secs behind Privalova.