Bolt and Powell Cruise in Jamaica - Gatlin and Gay Win Qualifying Rounds in the US Champs

Jamaican Track and field Championships 2013

Usain Bolt made easy progress into Friday's semifinals of the men's 100 metres at the Jamaican trials for the world championships.

Bolt got off to a decent start and took control of heat one by the 40-metre mark before cruising across the finish line in 10.00 seconds on Thursday.

Asafa Powell, who had previously failed to complete a competitive race all season due to hamstring problems, enters the semifinals with the second fastest time after winning heat four in 10.02 seconds.

"Happy to complete my first race in a year," Powell, who had been battling hamstring problems, told Reuters after completing his first competitive race of the season. "It was quite easy."

USA track and fied chamionships 2013

 The year's fastest man Tyson Gay, won his 100m heat in 10.28 seconds while Olympic bronze medallist Gatlin, racing into a stronger head wind, finished behind collegian Charles Silmon in 10.37 in the next race. Silmon ran 10.35.

"I didn't really have a great start," said Gay, his hair and beard neatly trimmed after several months of letting both grow out. "But (I wanted) to the get the kinks out, get the nerves out. I should be ready for tomorrow."

Gatlin, who recently surprised world record holder Usain Bolt in Rome, was more concerned about qualifying than a fast time, especially with a 2.9 metres per second wind blowing into his face.

"There was a little hurricane out there, the head wind, but it felt good to come out here and shake the legs out a little bit," said the 2004 Olympic 100 metres gold medallist.

The semifinals and finals are on Friday with the top three finishers from the Des Moines, Iowa, meeting qualifying for the August 10-18 worlds in Moscow.