Usain Bolt of Jamaica competes in the Men's 100m Round 1 Heats on Day 8 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 4 2012 (© Getty Images)
The first round heats saw the American pair of both Ryan Bailey and Justin Gatlin send out a timely message to their more fancied Jamaican rivals for the gold medal that they have the necessary firepower in their armouries to make it happen.
Gatlin thrilled the huge, ecstatic crowd when recovering from being last out of his blocks (reaction 0.200), he rocketed to the first ever sub-10 clocking in any Olympic first round heat with a performance of 9.97 and a following wind of +0.7m/s.
"It was good, the track was superfast and it was another good day at the office," said the 2004 gold medallist. I worked on my technique - I just wanted to go out there and give the spectators a good show."
"You feel the magic out there," said Gatlin about the fantastic atmosphere created by the packed stadium which had been eagerly awaiting the 100m heats
Then Bailey at 23-years-old, seven years Gatlin’s junior and a surprise third in the sudden-death USA Olympic trials went even faster. Aided by a +1.5m/s wind the new boy on the block who had showed his form when second at the London Samsung Diamond League, equalled his two-year-old fastest ever time of 9.88.
"I equalled my personal best," said Bailey who missed the 2011 season through injury. "I just wanted to get out and run my heat. I knew if I stayed healthy I'd be OK. It was surprisingly easy."
Just prior to that duo's historic achievements in the first heat, 2007 World 100m and 200m champion Tyson Gay, the third American contender, produced an easy looking 10.08 to beat Trinidad's Beijing silver medallist Richard Thompson by 0.06sec in 10.08.
The Jamaican response came quickly. Although Bolt, Blake and Asafa Powell didn’t dip under the 10sec marker, they all looked comfortable when moving into tomorrow's semi-finals.
Bolt was first on stage and with much less showboating than he has displayed since becoming the World's fastest man, he reined himself in 20 metres from the finish line to produce an easy looking time of 10.09.
"I expected it," said Bolt. "I'm running well, I'm happy, training is great. Reaction was good," although not enjoying the best of starts. "I made a bad step. I stumbled a bit. I'm glad it happened now."
The defending champion was followed onto the track by Powell, who preceded him as World record holder, but still has a question mark against his ability to carry his best form into major championships despite twice taking World championship bronze medals.
Powell also ran well within in his ability, cruising down the straightway to win in 10.04, with as Britain's Adam Gemili, the winner of last month's World Junior Championships, chased him home in 10.11.
Then came Blake, the reigning World 100m champion, who without really changing up any gears ran a very easy looking even mark of 10.00, which dragged Japan's Ryoto Yamagata to a personal best 10.07.
The final heat saw a host nation victory from Dwain Chambers. The fourth placer finisher at the 2000 Sydney Games set a season's best of 10.02, as did French runner up Jimmy Vicaut in 10.11. Behind them the highly rated training partner of Gay, Trinidad's Keston Bledman ran a comfortable 10.13.
David Martin for IAAF
Gatlin thrilled the huge, ecstatic crowd when recovering from being last out of his blocks (reaction 0.200), he rocketed to the first ever sub-10 clocking in any Olympic first round heat with a performance of 9.97 and a following wind of +0.7m/s.
"It was good, the track was superfast and it was another good day at the office," said the 2004 gold medallist. I worked on my technique - I just wanted to go out there and give the spectators a good show."
"You feel the magic out there," said Gatlin about the fantastic atmosphere created by the packed stadium which had been eagerly awaiting the 100m heats
Then Bailey at 23-years-old, seven years Gatlin’s junior and a surprise third in the sudden-death USA Olympic trials went even faster. Aided by a +1.5m/s wind the new boy on the block who had showed his form when second at the London Samsung Diamond League, equalled his two-year-old fastest ever time of 9.88.
"I equalled my personal best," said Bailey who missed the 2011 season through injury. "I just wanted to get out and run my heat. I knew if I stayed healthy I'd be OK. It was surprisingly easy."
Just prior to that duo's historic achievements in the first heat, 2007 World 100m and 200m champion Tyson Gay, the third American contender, produced an easy looking 10.08 to beat Trinidad's Beijing silver medallist Richard Thompson by 0.06sec in 10.08.
The Jamaican response came quickly. Although Bolt, Blake and Asafa Powell didn’t dip under the 10sec marker, they all looked comfortable when moving into tomorrow's semi-finals.
Bolt was first on stage and with much less showboating than he has displayed since becoming the World's fastest man, he reined himself in 20 metres from the finish line to produce an easy looking time of 10.09.
"I expected it," said Bolt. "I'm running well, I'm happy, training is great. Reaction was good," although not enjoying the best of starts. "I made a bad step. I stumbled a bit. I'm glad it happened now."
The defending champion was followed onto the track by Powell, who preceded him as World record holder, but still has a question mark against his ability to carry his best form into major championships despite twice taking World championship bronze medals.
Powell also ran well within in his ability, cruising down the straightway to win in 10.04, with as Britain's Adam Gemili, the winner of last month's World Junior Championships, chased him home in 10.11.
Then came Blake, the reigning World 100m champion, who without really changing up any gears ran a very easy looking even mark of 10.00, which dragged Japan's Ryoto Yamagata to a personal best 10.07.
The final heat saw a host nation victory from Dwain Chambers. The fourth placer finisher at the 2000 Sydney Games set a season's best of 10.02, as did French runner up Jimmy Vicaut in 10.11. Behind them the highly rated training partner of Gay, Trinidad's Keston Bledman ran a comfortable 10.13.
David Martin for IAAF
