Gatlin cruises in 200, Armstrong in trouble

But Trinidad and Tobago champion Aaron Armstrong barely scraped into the quarter-finals which had to be re-scheduled to today because of a torrential downpour during the evening session.

Armstrong faces the toughest battle of his career as he lines up against

Jamaica junior world record holder Usian Bolt, defending American world champion John Capel, Great Britain and European champion Christian Malcolm and Japanese 2003 world bronze medallist Suetsugu Shingo in the fourth quarter-final race. Armstrong will be in lane eight, because his 21.12 seconds in yesterday’s

first round heats was the slowest among the 32 qualifiers, although he finished third in his heat won by Mauritius Stephen Buckland in 20.94 seconds.

The TT champion will have to reproduce his personal best 20.08 if he is to advance to the semi-finals.

Both Julien Raeburn and Kevon Pierre failed to make it past the first round. Raeburn clocked 21.12 in his heat won by France’s Ronald Pognon (20.37) while Pierre returned 21.24 in the heat won by Bolt (20.80)

The 23-year-old American double-crowned champion coasted home in third position with an easy 20.90 behind Australian Daniel Batman who won in 20.68.

Another American, Guy Tyson won Heat Six in 19.99 the fastest time among the 32 qualifiers for today’s quarter-finals. Meanwhile, TT’s "Sportswoman of the Year" Candace Scott will also be in action today vying for a qualifying berth in the women hammer throw.

Quarter-milers Ato Modibo and Damion Barry failed to advance to in the 400m quarter-finals. Modibo clocked 46.28 seconds for a fourth place in Heat Seven. Barry clocked 46.20 for fifth place in Heat Five won by Jamaican Michael Blackwood in 45.58.