Briton Helen Clitheroe is into Sunday's 15000m final, but only after qualifying as a fastest loser.
Such was the high quality of the opposition, Clitheroe admitted she had treated her heat as a final.
Bulgaria's Daniela Yordanova was first across the line in four minutes 05.72seconds, with Clitheroe, who failed to make the final four years ago, back in fifth spot and clocking four minutes 07.28 seconds.
Clitheroe, 32, said: "There was no point in thinking about Sunday's final until I got there and in the circumstances and against tough opponents, I raced it as one.
"I ran a good tactical race," said Clitheroe, although she is under no illusions how difficult a task she faces to gain a medal.
Commonwealth champion Lisa Dobriskey, finishing two places behind Clitheroe and posting a time of 4min 09.47secs, failed to join her team-mate in the final.
The first heat was won by Yuliya Chizhenko, this year's world leader, who coasted home a stride ahead of fellow Russian Tatyana Tomashova, last summer's world champion, in 4:05.74.
Having won a bronze medal in the 800m on Thursday, Becky Lyne was a non-starter for it. She is nursing an Achilles problem.
Aoife Byrne of Ireland was a casualty in the first heat, running well before wilting at the pace and fading back to 14th in a time of 4:16.07.
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
