Wayde VAN NIEKERK (RSA)1st in HEAT 1, 21.10 (PB)
I should do better. It was a little weak. It was my first race but I feel good. I feel like I can do better. The challenge was mostly the rain; it was a little cold.
I’m just going to go full out [in the semi-finals], do my best, fully perform.
If I’m racing, I’m normally in my zone, so I try to think only of my race and be grateful for being here.
I don’t really practice in the rain, but I do enjoy the rain.
Shota IIZUKA (JPN) - 1st in HEAT 1 - 21.13
I’m cold today because of the conditions. I have not run much in these conditions. I just wanted to run fast to the finals. I want to win. I did the usual [game plan]. I didn’t care about the rain.
Oluwasegun MAKINDE (CAN) - 3rd in HEAT 2 - 21.43
A little bit rough coming around the corner, it’s something we’ve been working on. Got to pick that up for the transition for the semi-final and I should be good.
Roy SCHMIDT (GER) - 1st in HEAT 3 - 21.21
It was a good race for me. In the beginning I was not too fast. In the end a little bit faster. In the semi-final I will be much faster. In the semi-final, maybe in the final I want to run a time under 21 seconds.
Dexter LEE (JAM) - disqualified from HEAT 4
I was a little tired from the long delay last night at the doping (control). I left at about 12:30. Now I’m just focused on the 4 x 100 metres relay.
I’m a little disappointed.
I was sure about the 100 metres. I wanted a medal in the 200 metres. I have the 4 x 100 metres relay coming up. I want to do well in that.
He (my coach) is not going to say anything.
I jumped the gun too early. I just jumped the gun.
(Did the rain play a factor?) No, it was cold.
Robin EREWA (GER) - 1st in HEAT 4 - 21.14
I feel nice. It was a good race. The rain didn’t really affect my race. It was disturbing at the start - the false starts made me lose my concentration a bit, but I kept focused.
For the next race, I will just give it my all.
Aliaksandr LINNIK (BLR) - 1st in HEAT 5 - 21.14
The run was good. It wasn’t my fastest, but I will run faster during the next race. I run in the rain a lot in my country. Now, I want to make the finals, and win the gold medal. I want to run my fastest and be the winner.
Julien WATRIN (BEL) 1st in HEAT 6 - 21.18
It went very well. I don’t really know what to say after the 1st round. It’s like how I did in the first round in the 100 metres, finishing first. It’s what follows. We’ll have to see, but it looks promising.
I will have to fight to get in the final. It won’t be easy at all.
I was a little nervous about slipping. In Belgium, we are used to this (rain). I’m in our kind of conditions right now.
[My result today] assures me a good lane in the semi-final. I’m already feeling the 100 metres in my legs. Then there’s the 4 x 100 metres relay.
Aaron BROWN (CAN) - 2nd in HEAT 6 - 21.21 (PB)
It’s really wet, really cold, as you can see. But coming into the race I felt really tight - I’ll have to get that massaged out. My finish was really good. That’s my strength in the 200 metres, so I was able to just maintain it and qualify for the next round.
I wasn't really trying to run a fast time. The conditions aren't favourable. I just wanted to qualify and I was able to do so.
Last year in the finals in Italy, I ran in this kind of rain. When you’re a sprinter, you have to adjust.
If we get some better weather, if I can get massaged out - my quad’s really tight - if I can get that loosened up, I can go a lot faster.
