(L-R) Jamaica's Anneisha Mclaughlin, USA's Allyson Felix and the Cayman Islands' Cydonie Mothersille in the second of the women's 200m semi-finals in Berlin (© Getty Images)
If we thought this was a likely battle between Jamaica and the USA then Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie of the Bahamas showed during the semi-finals that she could have the capability of smashing the duopoly in tomorrow's final.
Ferguson-McKenzie headed the qualifiers after blitzing to victory in the first semi-final in 22.24 just ahead of her training partner, the Olympic champion Veronica-Campbell-Brown (22.29).
Great Britain's Emily Freeman posted a personal best of 22.64 to take third in a photograph from Eleni Artymata of Cyprus who posted the same time. It was her second Cypriot record in two days and means she has lowered her personal best in Berlin by a staggering 0.49.
Both earned the two fastest losers spots with Artymata becoming the first Cypriot in World Championships history to qualify for a final. Freeman, meanwhile, became the first British to advance to the last eight of this event since the inaugural World championships in 1983.
However, there would be no place in tomorrow's final for Marshevet Hooker of the USA.
She pulled up clutching her leg just before she entered the home straight as her World Championship quest came to an abrupt end.
Ferguson-McKenzie won this title back in 2001 and looks like a woman re-born this year. The 33-year-old Bahamian stormed around the bend and had a clear lead on Campbell-Brown entering the home stretch. The Jamaican eased up alongside the long time leader but Ferguson-McKenzie breasted the line first to take a sweet semi-final win.
Defending champion Allyson Felix barely broke sweat as she cruised to heat two victory in 22.45. Just 0.10 adrift was Jamaica's Anneisha McLaughlin, who lowered her personal best by 0.36, to take the second automatic qualifcation spot.
LaVerne Jones-Ferrette of the American Virgin Islands snatched third in 22.74 with ChaRonda Williams of the USA fourth in 22.80, however both failed to secure fastest loser spots.
Felix rounded the curve level with McLaughlin but the silky smooth US athlete gently squeezed on the gas to take the second semi-final at a canter. Jones-Ferrette was also in touch with 50m to go but faded to third.
Muna Lee took victory in the third and final heat in a swift season's best of 22.30. Simone Facey was the other automatic qualifier in 22.58, also a 2009 best, to ensure a full complement of three Jamaicans will take their place in the final.
Behind Monique Williams set her second New Zealand record in two days with 22.90 for third. Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Trinidad was fourth in 22.98.
Lee dominated from the gun and held the advantage coming down the home straight. She simply obliterated the field in the second half of the race to signal her medal intentions.
Steve Landells for the IAAF
