News18 Aug 2008


Men's 200m - Round 1

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Defending 200m champion Shawn Crawford in the opening round (© Getty Images)

A total of 63 men lined up for the opening round of the 200m, but, in reality it was all about one man, No.2163, Usain Bolt.

The Jamaican sensation had created history on Saturday night as he set a World record of 9.69 en route to winning 100m gold, quite literally, for fun.

Yet the 200m has long been his speciality, so expectation is sky high he can not only land a second gold but push Michael Johnson's iconic World record of 19.32.

All eyes were fixed on the lanky Bolt in heat five, and guess what? He lost!

But don't panic, he comfortably qualified in second as he jogged down the home stretch in 20.64 - without a care in the world. Trinidad's Rondell Sorillo will at least be able to tell his grandchildren he beat the great Bolt - albeit in an opening heat - as he ran 20.58. For the record, Kristof Beyens of Belgium finished third in 20.69.
 
Elsewhere, the reigning champion Shawn Crawford began his title defence will a comfortable victory the opening heat. The US athlete rounded the bend with a commanding advantage before cruising down the home straight to register 20.61.

Poland's former European Under-23 champion, Marcin Jedrusinski, finished 0.03 behind to qualify second.

The fourth heat served up a slight surprise as Russian champion Roman Smirnov shaded first spot by 0.01 - in 20.76 - from the US champion Walter Dix.

Midway down the home straight Dix, the Olympic 100m bronze medallist, was in danger of missing out on the three automatic qualification positions, before he stepped on the gas over the final 50m to ensure his safe passage through to tonight's quarter finals. 

The third member of the US contingent in this event, Wallace Spearmon, flexed his muscles with an impressive heat six win in 20.46. The 2007 world bronze medallist cantered home 0.08 ahead of Norwegian record holder Jaysuma Saidy Ndure.
 
Brian Dzingai, 27, was the fastest qualifier for tonight's quarter final round. The improving Zimbabwean recorded an impressive 20.25 ahead of Great Britain's Christian Malcolm (20.42) in the second heat.

Great Britain's former World Indoor champion Marlon Devonish edged 2003 World 100m champion Kim Collins in the third heat. Devonish recorded a season's best 20.49 with Collins, of St Kitts and Nevis, 0.06 further back.

Nigerian champion Obinna Metu took top spot in the seventh heat in 20.62, which also saw the end of 2003 World bronze medallist Shingo Suetsugu's challenge. The Japanese athlete finished sixth in 20.93.

In the eighth and final heat Aaron Armstrong of Trinidad shaded a close run heat eight in 20.57 - just 0.01 ahead of Antigua's Pan American champion Brendan Christian. 

Steve Landells for the IAAF

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