Usain Bolt dwarfs the opposition in the 200m quarter finals (© Getty Images)
After jogging his morning heat to finish second, yes, I repeat second, behind Rondell Sorrillo of Trinidad, the Olympic 100m champion Usain Bolt's pride, not to mention his spellbinding class, was never going to allow a second successive defeat.
Running a superb bend Bolt entered the home straight in a comfortable lead before cutting back on the throttle over the final 70m to win heat one in a ridiculously easy 20.29.
Behind him the defending champion Shawn Crawford of the USA eased down rather more than he would have liked in the final 15m and only just took the second automatic qualifying position for tomorrow night's semi-finals in 20.42 - just 0.01 ahead of former world 100m champion Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis and Great Britain's Marlon Devonish.
Collins was awarded the third and final automatic spot for tomorrow's semi-finals after a photo-finish although Devonish also advanced as one of four fastest losers as did Jared Connaughton of Canada (20.45) for fifth.
Brian Dzingai was the fastest qualifier in this morning's heats and once again hinted at his potential to land Zimbabwe's first Olympic track and field medal with an impressive heat two win.
The diminutive Dzingai rounded the curve level with American Walter Dix but powered ahead down the home straight to stop the clock in 20.23.
Dix, who won the 100m Olympic bronze medal, faded a little down the home stretch but held on for second in 20.27 - 0.01 ahead of the third automatic qualifier, the fast finishing Christopher Williams of Jamaica.
Behind them Great Britain's Christian Malcolm (20.30) and Stephan Buckland of Mauritius (20.39) progressed to the semi-finals as fastest losers.
Heat three was marred by a delayed start because of the noise created down the back straight by the ongoing men's long jump final, but when it did get underway Antigua's Brendan Christian was the boss.
He entered the home straight two metres clear and the Pan American champion maintained his superiority to record 20.26.
Antigua, like Zimbabwe, have also never won an Olympic track and field medal but they will be cautiously optimistic following this impressive display by Christian.
Churandy Martina of the Netherlands' Antilles, who finished fourth in the 100m final on Saturday, safely made the semi-finals recording 20.42 for second. The fast finshing Kristof Beyens of Belgium grabbed the third automatic spot in 20.50. T
The USA advanced all three men to the semi-finals, although Wallace Spearmon was forced to work much harder than he would have liked.
Spearmon crawled out of his blocks and was down in fifth and four metres behind the leader Jaysuma Saidy Ndure of Norway at halfway.
However, the 2007 World bronze medallist showed his undoubted class down the home straight to snatch second in 20.39. Ireland's Paul Hession came with an late surge to take the heat won in 20.32 - within 0.02 of his lifetime best. Ndure, who was easing down, secured third in 20.46.
Steve Landells for the IAAF
