Bolt cruises into 200m semi-finals - Day 4 wrap up

The run by Bolt saw him coming away with not only the Olympic gold and world record, but also with the Olympic record, previously held by Jamaican-born former Canadian sprinter Donavon Bailey. (Photo: SportingEagle.com

By Gary Smith

BEIJING, China, August 18, 2008 - Jamaica's Usain Bolt took another step closer to completing his sprint double feat when he eased into the semi-final round of the men's 200-metres dash at the Olympics in Beijing, Monday night.

Cruising to another win

Bolt, crowned 100m champion and world and Olympic record holder on the day on Saturday ran a swift curve and then shut things down on the straightaway to finish first in 20.29seconds.

Bolt has been fruitful all season, but on Saturday night he established himself as the best sprinter in the world when he produced to superlative 9.69 seconds world record to win the men's 100-metres title at the Beijing Olympic Games.

American defending champion Shawn Crawford hustled home for second in 20.42, while Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis took third 20.43 and booked his spot in the semis.

Brendan Christian ran a solid 20.26 to win his quarter-finals over Dutch Antilles' Churandy Martina, who posted 20.42 for second.

Jamaican veteran Christopher Williams, a former world silver medallist clocked 20.28 to also take his spot in the semis after running a smart curve against a strong headed by Zimbabwe's spirited runner Brian Dzingai, who won 20.23.

Hurdlers make it through

The Caribbean will have two competitors in the women's 100m hurdles after Jamaicans Delloreen Ennis-London (12.67) and Brigitte Foster-Hylton (12.76) to finish second and third in their respective semi-finals. American pre-Games favourite Lolo Jones is the top contender for gold and she qualified fastest with a flashing 12.43 personal best.

Jamaica's Vonette Dixon failed to keep her balance midway through the race and finished fifth in semi-final two in 12.86.

On the men's side, World record holder Dayron Robles of Cuban stopped the clock at an easy 13.39sec to win his 110m hurdles heat.

Moving on also are Jamaicans Richard Phillips (13.60) and Maurice Wignall (13.61), Barbadian Ryan Brathwaite (13.38), Cayman Islands' Ronald Forbes (13.59) in addition to Bahamian Shamar Sands  13.45 and Trinidad's Mikel Thomas (13.69).

In the longer version of the event, world leader and favourite Melaine Walker of Jamaica was dominant in her 400m hurdles semi-final coasting him some five to six metres clear of the entire field to win in 54.20.

Her teammate Nickiesha Wilson, who was taunted for a medal in the event could only managed a 54.67 fifth place performance that knock her out of contention for a slot in the deciding race.

American Sheena Tosta was the fastest qualifier in the two heats with her winning time of 54.07.

USA sweep, McFarlane fourth

On the men's which was one of the six finals of the fourth day, USA swept the event with Angelo Taylor clocking a personal best of 47.25secs to beat Trinidadian-born fellow countryman Kerron Clement, second in 47.98. Former world champion Bershawn Jackson finished third in 48.06.

The best Caribbean finisher was former silver medallist Danny McFarlane, whose mighty effort saw him finishing fourth in a seasonal best of 48.30. His Jamaican teammate Markino Buckley was seventh in 48.60.

Early 400m rounds

In early rounds of the men's 400m, Bahamian Chris Brown clocked the fastest time in the heats -- winning against a strong field in 44.79. His countrymen Michael Mathieu (45.17) and NCAA champion Andretti Bain (45.96) also joined him from their heats.

Other Caribbean athletes going through to the quarter-finals are: Trinidadian former World Junior champion Renny Quow (45.13), Jamaica's former colligate champion Ricardo Chambers (45.22), as well as Tabarie Henry, who ran a new U.S. Virgin Islands national record of 45.36.

One notable casualty in only the first round of competition was Grenadian former two-time world indoor champion Alleyne Francique, whose 46.15 was only fast enough for sixth in his heat.

Elsewhere….

In the women's Discus Throw finals, Cuba's world championships bronze medallist Yarelis Barrios adds an Olympics silver to her global championships collection following a 63.64m best attempt to take second behind American 64.74m.

Meanwhile, the women's 800m finals saw Jamaica's Kenia Sinclair finishing outside of the medals, but in a seasonal best of 1:58.24 for sixth place.

Pamela Jelimo posted a new world junior record of 1:54.87 to win the event ahead of her fellow countrywoman Janeth Jepkosgei, a distant second in1:56.07. Morocco's Hasna Benhassi clocked 1:56.73 for the bronze.