Berlin  - Pamela Jelimo of Kenya returned to the big stage on Sunday, qualifying for the second round of the 800 metres at the world championships and hoping to regain the form that gave her Olympic gold last year.

Plagued by injury early in the season, Jelimo has been far from the form of 2008 where she became the third-best runner over the distance with 1 minute 54.01 seconds and took the Beijing gold.

On Sunday, she easily won her heat in 2:03.50 to make Monday's semi-finals along with South African season leader Caster Semenya (2:02.51) and Russian contender Mariya Savinova (2:03.27).

There were also no surprises in women's shot put qualifying with world and Olympic champion Valerie Vili of New Zealand leading the way with 19.70 metres and expected to dominate the evening final.

Nadine Kleinert had 19.36m and hopes to delight the German home crowd with a fifth big event medal after three silvers and one bronze in the past at the Olympics and worlds.

Set for later in the morning session were among other events the women's 100m heats and the continuation of the heptathlon. In downtown Berlin, the women were contesting the 20km walk final.

The day was later due to be highlighted by the men's 100m final, with triple world champion Tyson Gay of the US hoping to spring a surprise on Jamaican three-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt. (dpa)