Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt remained on course to regain his 100 metres world title as he progressed into Sunday’s final at the World Athletics Championships.
Bolt, the 26-year-old world record holder, shadowed the diminutive American Mike Rodgers for most of his semi-final heat, the third of three. Bolt was in complete control of the race and edged Rodgers at the line by one-hundredth of a second in 9.92sec.
The six-time Olympic gold medallist has three Jamaicans in the final for company: Nesta Carter, Nickel Ashmeade and Kemar Bailey-Cole. They will be joined by Rodgers and his US teammate Justin Gatlin.
Ivanov wins 20km walk title
Aleksandr Ivanov gave hosts Russia their first gold of the world championships on Sunday and the country’s third successive title in the 20 kilometres walk.
The 20-year-old timed 1hr 20min 58sec ahead of China’s Olympic champion Chen Ding (1hr 21min 09sec) while Spaniard Miguel Lopez took the bronze (1hr 21min 21sec).
Earlier, US sprinter English Gardner fired out a warning to defending world 100m champion Carmelita Jeter by topping the heats on Sunday with a time of 10.85 seconds.