Big guns ease through 100m heats

Friday, August 15: The athletics programme finally got underway this morning with the three front-runners in the blue riband 100m men's sprint all making light work of their heats. The Jamaican Usain Bolt "virtually jogged" through the last 20 metres of the opening race, according to the BBC, but still crossed the line in 10.20 seconds.

His compatriot Asafa Powell won his heat in 10.16 seconds and in the fifth heat the American Tyson Gay completed in 10.22 seconds. The only blot on the horizon was that Bolt was clearly troubled afterwards by a stomach problem.

The three British hopefuls all got through the heats to the second round though the veteran Michael Johnson, commenting on BBC television on Thursday night, said they haven't a chance of going all the way against the two Jamaicans or Gay.

Tyrone Edgar was the most impressive of the three Brits, winning his heat in 10.13 seconds. Craig Pickering, who finished third in his heat, said: "It feels good. It is my first time in the Olympic Games so it was all a bit nerve wracking, especially being in with Asafa Powell."

Simeon Williamson recorded a time of 10.42 seconds to finish third in his heat.

LAST UPDATED 8:49 AM, AUGUST 15, 2008