Gatlin leads the pack
Sprint rivals Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin sailed through into the semi-finals of the men's 100m at the world championships on Saturday.
Boos rang around a packed Bird's Nest in Beijing when Gatlin, who has served two doping bans, was introduced to the crowd over the loudspeaker.
But the 33-year-old Anerican blasted home in the fastest time of 9.83sec, albeit with a windspeed of 2.1m/s, just over the legal limit.
Defending champion Bolt, however, was greeted with whoops and the Jamaican was seen nodding his head along to some piped Bob Marley music at the start before steaming home in a very comfortable 9.96sec.
American Trayvon Bromell set out his stall as a contender. The 20-year-old eased up fully 10 metres from the line in clocking 9.91sec.
He will be joined in the semi-finals by teammates Tyson Gay -- the double 2007 world sprint champion -- and Mike Rodgers, both of whom have also served doping bans.
Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut stormed home in 9.92sec with Canadian hope Andre de Grasse, 20, timing 9.99 in second.
Jamaican Asafa Powell, the self-proclaimed "king of the sub-10", clocked 9.95sec in winning the opening of the seven heats, while China's Bingtian Su nabbing second in 10.03 to the public's delight.
It was the 92nd time Powell has dipped under the once-mythical 10sec barrier.
Britain's Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill began her quest for a second world heptathlon title by leading through the first two events on Saturday's opening day in Beijing.
Eritrea claimed the first gold of the world championships when unheralded teenager Ghirmay Ghebreslassie stormed to a shock victory in the men's marathon on Saturday.
In hot, clear conditions, the 19-year-old Ghebreslassie sealed a memorable win in 2hr 12min 27sec.
"I am so proud of this victory. This is my first gold medal in my first marathon championship," said the Eritrean, crowned the youngest ever world marathon winner in just his fourth race.
"It's a very special thing for me. It gives me motivations to continue to work hard. My medal is the first gold medal in Eritrean history."
Eritrea had previously only ever claimed one medal -- a silver by Tadese Zersenay's silver in the 10,000m in the 2009 worlds in Berlin.
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