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IAAF World Championships Day 9 Live Stream: What To Watch

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LONDON, Sporting Alert — The women’s and men’s 4×100 and 4×400 metres relays will highlight the morning session at the IAAF World Championships in London, on Saturday’s Day 9 penultimate day.

Watch the live streaming coverage from the championships which will be available on several platforms, including the IAAF official YouTube and Facebook pages.

In addition, NBC Sports will also provide live stream, with the live coverage getting underway at 5:00 a.m. ET. The IAAF will also have live updates, including results and interviews, while live blogging and Live radio is on the dedicated page.

The heats of the women’s 4x100m will get going at 5:35 am ET, while the men’s section will begin at 5:55 am.

Tori Bowie is expected to miss out when the United States take on the likes of Great Britain and Switzerland in the first heat of the women’s section.

The Elaine Thompson-led Jamaica, Germany and Trinidad and Tobago are among the favourites to advance from the second heat.

On the men’s side, Usain Bolt is anticipated to line-up for Jamaica in Heat 2, alongside 110m hurdles champion Omar McLeod against teams such as Canada, China and France.

Bolt finished third in the men’s 100m and will be aiming to redeem himself and close out what has been a stellar track and field career on a high.

World champion Justin Gatlin and runner-up Christian Coleman will lead the United States team in Heat 1 against Great Britain, Japan and Trinidad and Tobago.

Both finals are slated to take place on Saturday evening.

The semi-final heats of the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays will close out the track events in the morning section.

Lining up in Heat 1 on the women’s side are the United States, Great Britain, France and Australia in the battle for three automatic spots.

Jamaica, Germany, Italy and Ukraine are the main candidates for the top spots in Heat 2.

In the men’s section, Jamaica will take on the Bahamas and Poland in the first heat.

Gold medal favourites the United States, along with Botswana, Great Britain and Trinidad and Tobago, will feature in the second semi-final heat.

The Decathlon will also continue in the morning session on Day 9.

World Championships Live Stream, Results: Day 2

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LONDON, Sporting Alert — Live stream and updates from Day 2 of the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London on Saturday.

Live streaming coverage from the championships is available on several different platforms, including the IAAF official YouTube and Facebook pages.

NBC Sports will also carry live stream of the championships, with the live coverage getting underway at 5:00 a.m. ET. The IAAF will also have live updates, including results and interviews, while live blogging and Live radio is on the dedicated page.

Four finals are on the schedule in the evening session on the second day of competition, including the final of the men’s 100m, where world record holder Usain Bolt will try to win his fourth world title in the straightaway dash.

Wade Van Niekerk
Wade Van Niekerk of South Africa winning the men’s 400m

Before that though, the first morning session will get underway on Day 2 at 5:00 am ET with the qualifying round of the men’s Shot Put before the opening event of the women’s Heptathlon gets going at 5:05 am.

The men’s Shot Put will consist of two fields with the qualifying performance set at 20.75m or at least the top 12 best performers.

First event on the track is set for 5:45 am and it will be the heats of the men’s 400m where world record holder Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa will try to win his third successive global crown.

LaShawn Merritt of USA, Jamaica’s Nathon Allen, Botswana’s Isaac Makwala and Baboloki Thebe, among others, will also get their championship hunt underway.

Also taking the track in the morning session is the hottest women’s sprinter in the last year, Elaine Thompson of Jamaica who will go in the heats of the women’s 100m at 6:45 am.

Tori Bowie of USA, Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands, Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast and Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye will also face the starter’s gun.

The last track event in the morning session on Day 2 is the men’s 800m heat, but defending champion and world record holder David Rudisha of Kenya will not race due to an injury.

The Hammer Throw qualifying round for women, the women’s Triple Jump qualifier and High Jump are the field events competitions in the morning session.

Farah Grabs 10k Title; Bolt Advances In 100m At World Championships

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LONDON, Sporting Alert — Mo Farah used another master class tactic to win the first gold medal at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London after he ran away with the men’s 10,000m crown on Friday night.

OVERCOMING THE DUMPS

The reigning champion entered the championships as the favourite but had to work super hard to defend this one after his rivals employed new tactics to throw off his game.

Still, Farah managed to shake off the obstacles, including a few leg clippings, to win his third successive world championships title over the 10,000m and clocked a world-leading time of 26:49.51.

The Great Britain legend will retire from the track at the end of the 5,000m, which takes place later at the championships.

Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda finished very strongly down the home stretch to blow by Kenya’s Paul Tanui and grabbed the silver medal in a personal best time of 26:49.94.

Tanui, struggling all the way home, grabbed the bronze medal with a seasonal best time of 26:50.60.

Shadrack Kipchirchir was the highest American finisher, at ninth with a personal best time of 27:07.55.

BOLT STILL LOOKS RUSTY

Meanwhile, Usain Bolt strolled into the semi-finals of the men’s 100m after the Jamaican posted a time of 10.07 seconds to win his heat, but he admits he has work to do.

Bolt, who is seeking to win his fourth IAAF World Championships 100m gold medal, wasn’t as smooth as he would have liked and he was seen shaking his head in disapproval as he crossed the finishing line.

Usain Bolt: 2017 World Championships
Usain Bolt during his interview at the 2017 World Championships

The 30-year-old world record holder also voiced his frustration with the starting blocks after he slipped at the start of the race and needed to play catch up.

Running the fastest time of the heats was Bolt’s Jamaican teammate Julian Forte, who equalled his personal best with a time of 9.99 seconds to win the third section.

American Christian Coleman looked very smooth when winning the opening heat in 10.01, while his countrymen Justin Gatlin (10.05) and Christopher Belcher (10.13) also earned semi-finals slots.

Yohan Blake of Jamaica, the 2011 world champion, ran 10.13 for second in his heat, which was won by Japan’s rising star Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, who ran a personal best of 10.05.

The semi-finals and final are set for Saturday.

Elsewhere, Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba led Caster Semenya of South Africa, Dutch woman Sifan Hassan and Kenyan Faith Kipyegon into the semi-finals of the women’s 1500m.

How To Watch The 2017 IAAF World Championships Live

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LONDON, Sporting Alert — The 2017 IAAF World Championships in London, begins on Friday 4 August with Usain Bolt among the highlighted athletes on the schedule to compete on the first day.

Live streaming coverage from the championships is available on several different platforms, including the IAAF official YouTube and Facebook pages.

NBC Sports will also carry live stream of the championships, with the live coverage getting underway at 2 p.m. ET. The IAAF will also have live updates, including results and interviews, while live blogging and Live radio is on the dedicated page.

Among the event listed on the schedule for Day 1 is the heats of the men’s 100m, where defending champion and sprint icon Bolt will start his hunt for a fourth world title in the event.

Despite not having his best season, having run just one sub-10 seconds time so far this season, Bolt is confident about bowing out on a winning note.

“I show up at a championships I’m fully confident,” he said at his press conference. “My coach is confident and I’m ready to go. I’m fully confident, 100-percent.”

Bolt’s pedestrian campaign leading up the championships has entertained a significant amount doubter, but the Jamaican who turns 31 later this month isn’t too worried.

“I’m the underdog, for some reason,” he said. “That’s what I keep reading. That’s what my team keeps telling me… I’ve got to prove myself once more.

“My last race was 9.95, which shows I’m going in the right direction. The two rounds [heats and semis] always helps me. I’m always going forward.

“At championships it’s about who keeps their nerve. I’ve been here before. It’s time to go. It’s ‘go’ time.”

Before that though, the preliminaries of the 100m will take place early in the afternoon session where 14 athletes will move on to take on the likes of Bolt, Justin Gatlin, Christian Coleman and Yohan Blake.

The qualifying round of the men’s discus throw is also on the schedule for Day 1, with world-leader Daniel Stahl of Sweden and Jamaica’s Fedrick Dacres among the throwers surprise veterans Robert Harting of Germany and Piotr Malachowski of Poland.

The heats of the women’s 1500m, with world-leader Sifan Hassan, Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon of Kenya and world champion and world record-holder Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia, the three medallists two-years-ago, hoping to book places in the final.

Mo Farah will race in the men’s 10,000m, the only final of Day 1 and the Great Britain star man will seek to win his third successive title in that event.

The men’s Long Jump and women’s Pole Vault qualifying rounds are also set to get underway on the opening day in London.

Bolt Runs 9.95 To Win At Monaco DL

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MONACO, France, Sporting Alert — Usain Bolt clocked 9.95 seconds in his final race before the London World Championships at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Monaco on Friday.

Bolt, who got off a slow start before working his way to the front, was running a season’s best as he tests his fitness ahead of the showdown with some of the world’s best in two weeks time.

The Jamaican world record holder who announced that he will retire at the end of this season, has raced sparingly in 2017 and the race in Monaco, was only his third 100m for the year.

Bolt got off to a slow start but managed to pull through for the win, running his first sub-10 second for the season, as he carried American Isiah Young.

Young finished with a time of 9.98 seconds and he was happy with the performance.

“I was thinking you would need 9.8 to win today, but at the end of the day it was 9.9 what made it,” the U.S. sprinter said.

“I m happy I was there and so close to Bolt at the end of his great career.”

He added: “A couple of days ago I was told I will run the 200m in London so this sub 10 is great preparation for that.

“I need to execute well and then I can attack a medal in that event.”

Akani Simbine of South Africa was third in 10.02, the same time as Great Britain’s Chijindu Ujah.

Jamaica’s Olympic 110m hurdles gold medallist Omar McLeod was supposed to be in the race as well but the lineup was changed prior to the race.

Meanwhile, another world record holder, South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk pulled away from Botswana’s Isaac Makwala in the closing stages of the race to win the men’s 400m in a swift time of 43.73 seconds.

Van Niekerk, who also owns the world’s fast time this year, got off to a brisk start, and was challenged midway through the race by Makwala.

However, the Olympic champion dug deep to ease away from his rival and head to London in confident form.

“It was great performance today, I’m feeling positive about it,” said Van Niekerk.

“My body feels to be in great shape and this win from behind gives me lot of confidence. We still are not peaking, we trained hard last week, all should be ok for London and my double.

“I was forced to change my plan when I saw Isaac in front in last 100 m. All went well. Ready for the big plan.

Makwala was also impressive after he clocked a season’s best of 43.85 for second place.

His fellow country Baboloki Thebe was third in 44.26.

Elaine Thompson Blasts To 10.71 To Win Jamaica Trials

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KINGSTON, Jamaica, Sporting Alert — Olympic champion Elaine Thompson blasted to a world-leading time of 10.71 seconds to win the women’s 100m title at the Jamaica Trials at the National Stadium on Friday night.

Thompson, who was the Diamond League overall 100m champion from last season, which earned her a spot on the Jamaican team to the IAAF World Championships in London, later this summer, impressively pulled away from the field to set a new seasonal best.

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It was also the second time the 24-year-old, who successfully defending her national title, was running below 10.80 seconds in the 100m this season.

Prior to her time on Friday night, Thompson, who won the Olympic Games 100m and 200m sprint double in Rio last summer, led the world with a time of 10.78 seconds.

The time was just off her personal best of 10.70 seconds, and the Stephen Francis coached sprinter is looking forward to the rest of the year.

Asked how much faster she expects to go this campaign, Thompson said: “I’m just gonna taking it day-by-day and race-by-race.”

Following Thompson to the finishing line was a fast closing Simone Facey, the 2016 Olympic 4x100m relay silver medallist, who dipped at the line for second in a new season’s best of 11.04.

Jura Levy ran 11.06 secs for third, while training partner Natasha Morrison, rounding back into good form this season, completed the World Championships team with a fourth place finish in 11.09.

Defending world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce didn’t take part in the Jamaica Trials and will not defend her title in London, as she is currently expecting a baby.

Meanwhile, with Usain Bolt opting to skip the Jamaica Trials to concentrate on his preparations for his last season, his training partner Yohan Blake continued his comeback from injury by winning the national title for the second successive season.

Blake, the 2011 world champion eased home in a season’s best time of 9.90 seconds, his fastest time since 2012.

Julian Forte finished in 10.04 for second place, while Senoj-Jay Givans closed like a bullet to grab third in 10.05.

Asafa Powell, who aggravated an achilles pain injury in the semifinals, was a no show for the final.

Live Streaming Of JN Racers Grand Prix; Bolt’s Final Race At Home

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KINGSTON, Jamaica, Sporting Alert — Usain Bolt, in what will be his final competitive race on home soil, leads a galaxy of world-class track and field talents down to compete at the JN Racers Grand Prix at the National Stadium on Saturday.

Watch Live Streaming coverage at 1Spotmedia.com, while Hitz 92FM will have live radio streaming. coverage, starting at 6:35 pm local time (7:35 pm ET). Follow Live Results Here

The eight-time Olympic champion who holds the world records in both the 100m and 200m, has announced that he will retire at the end of this season, which concludes at the London World Championships this summer.

Usain Bolt wins at Racers Grand Prix
Usain Bolt of Jamaica dominated the men’s 100m.

Fans from all across the globe, in addition to international standouts such as David Rudisha of Kenya, the 800m world record holder, South Africa’s 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk, Great Britain’s Mo Farah and America Christian Taylor, will be at the National Stadium in Kingston, to salute the track and field legend.

Bolt, as expected, is ready to put on a show, but admits he’s bracing for an emotional display.

“It’s gonna be a great reception,” he said. “I’m home, the amount of people that called me to get tickets (he laughs), I know the stadium’s gonna be full, so I know it’s gonna be high energy.

“I know it’s gonna be just one big party. It’s going to be emotional, but I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

Bolt added: “I don’t know how to feel. It’s my last time in front of my home crowd, so I don’t know how the emotions will be.

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“I know they’re gonna be loud. I’m just going out there with an open mind. Just trying to do my best as always and put on a show for them because that’s what they’re coming out there to look forward to.

“We’ll see what happens. The fans in Jamaica know that when I show up, I always show up at my best. I always go out there and give my all.”

He joked: “I always try to make sure they’re happy because they’re very hard to please, but I try my best.”

Bolt will line up in the last race on the schedule – the ‘Salute to a Legend’ 100m race against fellow countrymen Michael Frater, Nesta Carter, Jevaughn Minzie, and Nickel Ashmeade.

Asafa Powell was also on the list to race in the event but has withdrawn due to injury.

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The former 100m world record holder cited a hamstring strain as the reason for his omission, adding that he wants to be fully fit in two weeks time for the Jamaica National Championships.

Yohan Blake heads the list of entrance in the open 100m with training partner and countryman Kemar Bailey-Cole also entered along with Akani Simbine of South Africa.

Meanwhile, Olympic champion and 400m world record holder Van Niekerk will take on Rasheed Dwyer, Nigel Ellis, Zharnel Hughes and Warren Weir in the men’s 200m.

American Allyson Felix leads the line-up in the women’s 400m, with teammate Courtney Okolo and Jamaica’s Olympic medallist Sherika Jackson and young Tiffany James entered in the event as well.

Elsewhere, Mo Farah and Jamaica record holder Kemoy Campbell go in the men’s 3000m, while David Rudisha heads the field for the men’s 800m.

Bolt to run mixed 4x100m at Nitro Athletics series: Watch Live

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MELBOURNE, Australia — Usain Bolt will run on a mixed 4x100m relay team for the Bolt All-Stars at the inaugural Coles Nitro Athletics series at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne on Saturday, February 4.

Channel Seven in Australia will stream it live online. Live streaming on FloTrack in the US (paid).

The Jamaica world record holder over both the 100m and 200m, will line up alongside fellow countryman Asafa Powell and American sprinters Jenna Prandini and Jeneba Tarmoh in the final race of the night.

Powell, who will also run in the men’s 60m, will run the first leg and hand over the baton to Bolt on the second leg.

The captain and coach of the Bolt All-Stars will then turn things over to the women with Prandini running the third leg and her US colleague Tarmoh running the anchor.

“It was so much fun just to be a part of a team,” Prandini said after winning the women’s 150m race. “You don’t get to do that anymore. I loved it”

The Nitro Athletics series is a three meet scoring event, which will see Bolt All-Stars taking on five other teams representing Australia, China, England, Japan and New Zealand.

” I have a great team so I expect nothing but the best from them,” Bolt said.

“But I’m also going to tell them to have lots of fun and just go out there and give their best.”

Team Australia co-captain Genevieve LaCaze is looking forward to seeing how the much talked about Nitro Athletics series will unfold.

“Honestly, I’m really excited to see how it all plays out because there has been so much hype about it and so much talk,” LaCaze said about the series.

“I’ve got family and people coming down from Queensland to watch that are really excited about it.

“The most interesting event will be the elimination mile because I can’t fathom how that’s going to play out.”

Atletico Madrid striker wants Usain Bolt as striker partner

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LONDON, Sporting Alert – Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann has revealed that he would like to play alongside the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt.

Griezmann, who is currently one of the highlighted frontment in world football, is being heavily linked with a £60million move to Manchester United, the club Bolt loves and support.

Bolt, the three-time triple Olympic champion said he would love to play football when he hangs up his running shoes and Griezmann thinks the Jamaican sprint senseation would be his ideal strike partner.

Griezmann told France Football: “Play against him, no, but with him, yes!

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“I would like him to play up front with me just behind to knock balls deep for him.

“I’d leave him all alone with the goalkeeper. I saw that he’s trained a bit with Dortmund and Manchester United.”

Griezmann, who is sponsored by Puma, the same company that supports Bolt, has also hinted at the club he would like his ideal partnership to happen.

“Speed isn’t everything, but he’d be a great striker at Atletico,” he said.

“Usain Bolt would be perfect for our game. Me behind and him up front. The best!”

Bolt is known more for his sprinting ability, and why not – with the 30-year-old setting world records in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m events.

However, he’s made it no secret that he wants to play football and will soon train with German side Borussia Dortmund.

Meanwhile, despite being linked with a move to Manchester United Griezmann says he’s happy at Atletico Madrid, although the France international admits that he would like to one day feature in MLS.

The 25-year-old said he would love to suit out for the David Beckham proposed MLS franchise in Miami, Florida.

“I love the States. I want to have an NBA season ticket, and go and watch each game with my children. I already see myself there,” said Griezmann.

“I don’t know which city yet, but why not in Beckham’s franchise in Miami. It would be the best to play under Beckham.”

Bolt Completes Third Olympic Sprint Double; Says He’s The Greatest

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Sporting Alert — Usain Bolt completed his third successive Olympic Games sprint double, after racing away with the men’s 200m title at Rio 2016 on Thursday night.

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The world record holder posted a time of 19.78 seconds to dismiss a quality field, with Canada’s Andre De Grasse taking the silver in 20.02 and the bronze going to Christophe Lemaitre of France in 20.12.

Bolt, who was hoping to lower either his world record of 19.19 or the Olympic record of 19.30, missed out at challenging any of the times.

The sprint sensation was visually disappointed with his performance, as he had hoped to deliver something special in his final individual Olympic event.

Still, the Jamaican sprint legend, who turns 30 this coming weekend, believes he has still put himself at the top of the list among sprint greats.

“I don’t need to prove anything else,” he said after landing his third Olympic 200m gold medal and his eighth overall at Games.

“What else can I do to prove to the world I am the greatest?”

Bolt, who announced ahead of the start of Rio 2016 that this would be his last Olympic Games, says he is stepping away because he doesn’t think he has anything else to prove.

“I have proven to the world that I am the greatest,” added Bolt. “That is why I came here.

“That’s why it is my last Olympics. I can’t do anymore. I make people want to come and watch the sport and be involved in it.

“To be an eight-time gold medalist is shocking but I have worked hard to be the best.

“I have proven to the world I have done great things. I am happy, Olympic champion again, that’s what matters.”

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Meanwhile, also hitting the headlines on Day 7 of track and field competition was American Ryan Crouser, who produced an Olympic record to win the men’s Shot Put and Ashton Eaton, who successfully defended his title and tied the Olympic record for most points in the men’s decathlon.

Crouser heaved the shot 22.52m to dominate the men’s event and grabbed the gold medal over countryman Joe Kovacs (21.72m) and New Zealand’s Tomas Walsh (21.36m).

“The atmosphere on the field was phenomenal, it was electric and once I got in the ring everything was really coming together,” Crouser said.

“It’s been a long road, and to get here and have everything to go essentially perfectly, words can’t describe how I feel right now.”

Meanwhile, Eaton tallied 8893 points to match the Olympic record and win back-to-back decathlon crowns, following his success at London 2012.

“I’m just happy to be a part of the family, the decathlon family,” the USA star who admits that he was chasing records, said.

“Regardless of the records and to be a two-time medalist is great, but it’s just greatest to be a decathlon.”

Kevin Mayer scored a national record of 8834 points to take the silver for France, with the bronze going to Canadian Damian Wariner with 8666pts.

American Delilah Muhammad also secured a gold on Day 7, after she clocked 53.13 to win the women’s 400m hurdles.

Elaine Thompson Completes Rio 2016 Double; Bolt Quickest In 200m

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Sporting Alert – Elaine Thompson held off the fast finishing Dafne Schippers to win the women’s 200m and complete the Olympic Games sprint double at Rio 2016 on Wednesday night.

Thompson, who secured the gold medal in the 100m on Saturday, blasted off the corner and then held her form down the straightaway to win the title in a season-best time of 21.78 seconds.

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The Jamaican was chased down by Schippers at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, last summer, and the Dutchwoman looked as though she was about the complete the same feat at the Olympic Games.

However, the world champion closed the gap, but was unable to overtake Thompson and had to settle for the silver medal in 21.88secs.

Schippers, who fell across the line, was visually disappointed following the race – with images capturing her tossing her spikes to the ground aggressively after failing to catch Thompson in the closing metres.

American champion Tori Bowie fell behind early in the race, but recovered to win the bronze medal in 22.15.

Marie-Josee Ta Lou from the Ivory Coast ran a new personal best and national record of 22.21 for fourth place.

Meanwhile, in the women’s sprint hurdles final, USA completed the first-ever sweep of the medals in the 100m hurdles in Olympic history, after Brianna Rollins led a 1-2-3 finish in the event for the Americans.

Rollins covered the obstacle distance in a time of 12.48, with Nia Ali getting the silver in 12.59 and Kristi Castlin outleaning Great Britain’s Cindy Ofili for the bronze in 12.61.

In the other final on the night, Tianna Bartoletta leaped a personal best mark of 7.17m in the fifth round to win the women’s Long Jump gold medal – beating American countrywoman and defending champion Brittney Reese, who did 7.15m for the silver.

Ivana Španović of Serbia won the bronze with a national record mark of 7.08m.

In the meantime, Usain Bolt took another step towards completing another Olympic Games sprint double after the Jamaican booked his place in the final in the men’s 200m with the fastest time and new seasonal best.

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Bolt, the champion from Beijing 2008 and London 2012, eased to a comfortable 19.78 seconds to win the second semi-final.

The world record holder joked his way across the finishing line with Canadian Andre De Grasse, who set a new national record of 19.80 to take second in the heat and advanced to the final as the second fastest.

USA’s LaShawn Merritt ran 19.94 to win his semi-final over France’s Christophe Lemaitre (20.01), but his American countryman and the second fastest man in 2016, Justin Gatlin, failed to advance after finishing third in his semis in 20.13.

Panama’s Alonso Edward took the other semi-final in a time of 20.07.

Also missed out at qualifying for the final was Jamaican champion Yohan Blake, the London 2012 silver medallist, after running 20.37 in his semi-final heat.

Bolt Eases Through In 200m; Taylor, Perkovic Land Gold Again

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Sporting Alert – Usain Bolt comfortably advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s 200m, after winning his heat effortlessly on Tuesday’s morning session on Day 5 of track and field competition at Rio 2016.

Bolt posted a time of 20.28 seconds to win Heat 9 of the event, easily beating Nigeria’s teenager Ejowvokoghene Oduduru, who ran a personal best of 20.34 for second place.

The world record holder won the Olympic Games 100m title on Sunday night and is bidding to become the first man in Olympic history to win a treble-treble.

In an interview after his race, the Jamaican speedster said he will wait until after he runs the semi-final to predict what kind of time he is capable of running in the final.

Canadian Andre De Grasse, the 100m bronze medallist from Sunday night, qualified the quickest in the half-lap with a comfortable time of 20.09secs.

Americans LaShawn Merritt and Justin Gatlin, the two fastest over the distance this year in that order, were easy heat winners on Tuesday as well.

Merritt, who won the bronze medal in the 400m Sunday night, finished first in heat 8 with a time of 20.15, the joint-fourth fastest on the day, while 100m silver medallist Gatlin ran 20.42 to take the fifth heat.

Also advancing to the semi-finals are Yohan Blake (20.13) of Jamaica, the London 2012 silver medallist, his countryman Nickel Ashmeade (20.15), Panama’s Alonso Edward (20.19), Spain’s Bruno Hortelano (20.12) and Nery Brenes of Costa Rica (20.20).

Five national records and a number of personal best and season best times were achieved in the heats.

TAYLOR AND CLAYE DOES IT AGAIN

Meanwhile, in field event action, Americans Christian Taylor and Will Claye repeated their 1-2 finish in the men’s triple jump from London 2012.

Taylor, the favourite heading into the competition opened with a massive mark of 17.86m and that was enough to defend his title, while Claye stretched out to a personal best of 17.76m in the first round as well for the silver.

“I wanted it so much,” Taylor said after the event. “It came together, the stars aligned.”

He added: “I wanted the world record but it wasn’t to be. I’ll keep pushing for it. It’s been there so long.”

China’s world indoor champion Dong Bin did 17.58m to take the bronze medal.

He was delighted with his effort.

“It’s very special for me because it’s the Olympics,” said Dong. “I got my personal best which made me very happy.

“It’s a new landscape for me. I’ve improved so much since coming 10th at London.”

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PERKOVIC HELD IT TOGETHER

Also in the field, Croatia’s defending Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic had just one mark, but it was more than enough to win the gold medal again in the women’s discus.

Perkovic started the competition with two fouls, but the champion held it together to toss a huge 69.21m in the third round to defend her crown.

Melina Robert-Michon of France was second with a new national record of 66.73m, while Cuba’s world champion Denia Caballero took the bronze with a 65.34m throw.