Five men attained the automatic qualifying standard of 8.15m during a scratchy early morning qualification session in muggy, overcast conditions at the Nagai Stadium.

South African record-holder Godfrey Mokoena led the qualifiers for tomorrow night’s final with an impressive third leap of 8.28m in Pool B. The long-legged Commonwealth silver medallist put together a solid series, but required his final effort to cement his automatic qualifying position.

Defending champion Dwight Phillips enjoyed the kind of qualification he would have dreamed about last night. The American jumped 8.22m in Pool A with his first effort to comfortably secure his passage into tomorrow night’s final and keep alive his hopes of completing a golden hat-trick of World titles.

Veteran James Beckford, caught a favourable 2.3m/s tailwind with his third attempt to propel him to 8.22m and secure the Jamaican a place in his sixth World Championship final.

But unheralded German Christian Reif caused the biggest surprise of qualification, smashing his personal best by 0.11cm to make his way into the 12-strong final with a third round effort of 8.19m.

After a first round foul, ice cool European champion Andrew Howe of Italy broke the sand at 8.17m to prove he, too, could be a major factor in the final.

By contrast pre-event favourite Irving Saladino looked far from his rhythmic best during a sloppy qualification session. Maybe it was the early morning start which did not appeal but Saladino, unbeaten in 2007, committed two fouls, and although his second round effort of 8.11m was good enough to progress, he looked decidedly casual and will have to improve in the final if he is to become the first Panamanian World champion.

The big name qualification casualty was Walter Davis of the US, winner of the triple jump bronze on Monday, who committed three fouls and was eliminated.

Osaka 2007 News Team/sl