Despite a most modest autoqualifying requirement of only 8.10, the men's long jumpers were - save Yago Lamela - inexplicably unable to reach that distance. Indeed, the Spaniard's 8.12 was the day's sole jump over 8m.
Behind Lamela, the 1999 silver medalist indoors and out, the remaining seven qualifiers for Saturday afternoon's final were closely bunched between 7.84 and 7.97.
Commonwealth Games recordholder James Beckford of Jamaica leapt only 7.74 and didn't advance.
Missed most in the final will be Cuban legend Iván Pedroso, winner of the meet's last five editions, but out with injury.
