Usain Bolt dwarfs the opposition in the 200m quarter finals (© Getty Images)
That Usain Bolt, he's such a tease.
After cruising effortlessly through the first two rounds yesterday the 91,000 packed inside the Bird's Nest Stadium were hoping for some fireworks from the Olympic 100m champion.
On this occasion it was not to be. We will have to wait until tomorrow's final for that to happen.
Bolt, in heat two, blasted past Wallace Spearmon on his outside within the first 40m and, remember, Spearmon is the 2007 World bronze medallist.
The giant Jamaican entered the straight level with the defending Olympic champion Shawn Crawford before he turned off the gas, almost cheekily allowing the American to take the lead.
Then, almost with a shrug of the shoulders, he extended that giant stride ever so slightly to ensure he would advance to the final as heat winner in 20.09.
In Crawford's defence he also looked in fine fettle clocking 20.12 for second. However, few would be betting he finishes as close to Mr Bolt in the final.
Spearmon recovered from the shock of seeing Bolt surge past him at 40m to battled back to clinch third in 20.14.
The other qualifier from heat two was Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis who ran 20.25 for fourth Collins better known as a 100m man, he was, of course, the World champion in that event in 2003 but he has suprised himself with his efforts over 200m to advance to the final.
There was disappointment for Pan American Games champion Brendan Christian who missed out on a final spot. The Antiguan, who had looked like a genuine medal threat in the quarter finals, had to settle for fifth in 20.29.
Stephane Buckland of Mauritius, sixth at the Athens Games, also missed out in sixth (20.48) with Marlon Devonish of Great Britain in seventh (20.57). Norweigian record-holder Jaysuma Saidy Ndure did not start.
With the greatest respect heat one was very much the hors d'ouevre before the main course.
Churandy Martina of the Netherlands' Antilles made a blistering start and held a narrow lead from Zimbabwe's Brian Dzingai on his inside. Walter Dix, of the USA, was two metres further down in third just ahead of Great Britain's Christian Malcolm.
Martina, who finished fourth in the 100m final on Saturday, is a class act and impressively maintained his form to stop the clock in a new national record of 20.11 - 0.06 quicker than his previous best.
Dzingai also looked comfortable, equalling his season's best of 20.17. Dix worked hard down the second half of the race to finish third in 20.19. However, the US champion will need to show more in the final if he is to add to the bronze he won in the 100m.
Great Britain's Christian Malcolm set a season's best of 20.25 to qualify to tomorrow night's final - eight years after reaching the final and finishing fifth at the Sydney Olympics.
There was disappointment for Paul Hession - a heat winner in the quarter final. The Irish record holder was never in contention and had to settle for fifth on 20.35.
Jamaica's former World 200m silver medallist Christopher Williams was sixth in 20.45. Jared Connaughton of Canada seventh in 20.55 with Kristof Beyens of Belgium eighth in 20.69.
Interestingly, three countries - St Kitts and Nevis, Zimbabwe and Netherlands' Antilles have qualified athletes for a Olympic 200m final for the first time.
Steve Landells for the IAAF
