BEIJING, Aug 15, 2008 (AFP) - The three fastest men in history, world record holder Usain Bolt, reigning double world champion Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell, all cruised through their Olympic 100m heats here on Friday.
Jamaican Powell, the only sprinter to have recorded five runs under 9.80sec, led the way with 10.16sec in a packed National Stadium on the first day of athletics action.
Bolt, who stripped compatriot Powell of his world record in May with a 9.72sec run, eased up at the line to record 10.20sec, while American Gay finished in 10.22sec.
Gay was running his first competitive race in over a month since suffering a hamstring injury in the 200m at the US trials and admitted that he hadn’t been great at the start.
``I was a little sluggish but now it feels good and my body woke up in the heat,’’ said Gay, who set an American 100m record at the trials of 9.77sec.
Walter Dix of the United States, touted by many as a possible gate-crasher in the 100m, qualified after finishing third in his heat in 10.35sec behind Portugal’s Francis Obikwelu and Nigerian Obinna Metu.
Also among the early qualifiers were Jamaican 2005 world silver medallist Michael Frater, who looked comfortable winning his heat in 10.15sec.
The Trinidadian trio of heat winner Richard Thompson, Darrel Brown and Marc Burns, as well as Kim Collins of St Kitts and St Nevis, gold medallist at the 2003 worlds, also progressed.
I'm taking no prisoners,'' warned the 32-year-old Collins, who was sixth in the Athens Games final. I’m taking no chances this time.’’
Frater, who failed to make the final four years ago, added: ``There is a very good chance that we will have six Caribbean sprinters in the final.’’
British sprinter Tyrone Edgar also qualified in the leading time of 10.13sec along with Derrick Atkins of the Bahamas, last year’s world silver medallist behind Gay.
Kenyan duo Janeth Jepkosgei and teenager Pamela Jelimo both won their heats in the women’s 800m, and will be joined in Saturday’s semi-finals by Mozambique’s veteran Maria Mutola and 2005 world champion Zulia Calatayud of Cuba.
After bolting with 200m to go, Mutola - the 2000 Olympic gold medallist and twice former world champion - was reined back in but kicked again for a season’s best of 1:58.91 in a tight heat finish.
The men’s shot putt saw Pole Tomasz Majewski lead the qualification standings on 21.04m.
The favoured American trio of Adam Nelson, Reese Hoffa and Christian Cantwell all moved through to the final later Friday, reaching the qualifying mark of 20.40m with ease.
I was a little flat but it got over the line, so that is all that matters,'' said Hoffa. I feel very good. I expended very little energy so I think I have a lot to give in the final.’’
The women’s heptathlon saw Hyleas Fountain take a psychological lead after the first two events, the American winning the 100m hurdles in 12.78sec and high jump with a best of 1.89m for 2251pts.
Briton Kelly Sotherton, who won bronze in Athens and the worlds last year and came to Beijing as favourite in the absence of Carolina Kluft, had a personal-best time of 13.18sec to finish fourth in the hurdles.
She then registered a best of 1.83m in the high jump, leaving her in fifth place overall, 138 points adrift of pace-setter Fountain.
In the field, defending hammer champion Koji Murofushi of Japan moved safely into Sunday’s final with a a lead-off throw of 78.16m.