Athletics: Gatlin rattles home

Olympic champion Justin Gatlin of the US cruised into this morning's quarter-finals of the men's 100m last night, clocking 10.16s in a canter.

Defending champion Kim Collins, from St Kitts and Nevis, also qualified, but in a sedate 10.31s.

Leonard Scott (USA) ran the fastest heat time, clocking 10.12s. More surprisingly two Australians, Patrick Johnson (10.20s) and Joshua Ross (10.28s), earned the right to contest this morning's quarter-finals.

In other features Marlon Devonish became the first Brit to qualify, winning a slow heat in 10.25s. Compatriot Mark Lewis-Francis sneaked in through the back door as one of eight fastest losers. Fellow Brit Jason Gardener won the final heat in a smart 10.19s.

In the first heat, Athens silver medallist Francis Obikwelu sent a message to his rivals when he beat Shawn Crawford of the US to qualify for this morning's quarter-finals. He clocked 10.17s with Crawford 0.06s back.

Heat two was fractionally quicker with France's Roland Pognon the winner in 10.15, followed closely behind by Jamaica's Ainsley Waugh and Nigeria's Olusuji Fasuba. Meanwhile, Carolina Kluft got her heptathlon campaign off to a brilliant start, clocking 13.19s in the 100m hurdles.


- HERALD ON SUNDAY