Tyson Gay cruises into 100m semi-finals

That was main goal of Gay and the rest of America\'s marquee sprinters on Thursday, the opening day of the meeting, which serves as the US trials for this year\'s World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

"My race was OK," said Gay, who owns the fastest 100m in the world this year of 9.79sec but has been nursing a sore hip. "The start was sluggish."

He clocked 10.01sec to finish second in a wind-aided heat to Ivory Williams, who was timed in 9.95sec.

Gay\'s time put him third on the day behind Williams and Michael Rodgers, who won his heat in 9.95sec with a legal wind of 1.3m/sec.

"It was nice, a nice warm up for tomorrow\'s race," said Rodgers. "I wasn\'t too happy with my start, but that\'ll be something that I can fix for tomorrow\'s race."

Also advancing into the 18-strong semi-final field was Justin Gatlin, returning to top flight competition after coming back from a four-year drugs ban last year, and Olympic bronze medallist Walter Dix.

Gatlin clocked 10.08sec and made it clear he wasn\'t back at the national championships for the first time since 2006 just to make up the numbers.

"I\'m not really shooting for a time. I\'m shooting for a dominant place," Gatlin said.

It was also mission-accomplished for Carmelita Jeter, the fastest woman over 100m so far this season, as she finished second-quickest in the women\'s 100m heats with a time of 10.88, behind the 10.87 of Marshevet Myers.

"It went really good for the first round," Jeter said. "Nothing for me to be overly excited about, but nonetheless still good for day one.

"I have to come out tomorrow and bring it."

Allyson Felix, the three-time 200m champion who owns the fastest 400m in the world this year (49.81), moved smoothly into the 400m semi-finals winning her heat in 51.79 -- the fourth-fastest time of the day.

Felix, who is contemplating attempting a 200m-400m double at Daegu, admitted she felt a little nervous going into the championships in the less familiar event.

"So far, so good," Felix said. "I think it\'s just about setting myself up for this final."

Sanya Richards-Ross, the reigning 400m world champion who is fighting to regain her peak form after a lengthy injury break last year, won her heat in 52.02 and said she might run the semi-finals in an effort to shake off a little more rust.

But she said she would definitely skip the 400m final on Saturday as she focuses on earning a world championships berth in the 200m.

American indoor record-holder Francena McCrory led the way into the semi-finals with a time of 51.46, followed by Debbie Dunn (51.56) and Natasha Hastings 51.71.

Former Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner also advanced easily in the men\'s 400 with a time of 45.94. Tony McQuay led the way into the semi-finals with a time of 45.25.

Two titles were decided on the track on Thursday.

Shalane Flanagan won the women\'s 10,000m in 30min 59.97sec.

"Any time you run under 31 minutes it\'s pretty special," said Flanagan, whose bronze medal in Beijing was America\'s first Olympic medal in the event since Lynn Jennings claimed bronze in Barcelona in 1992.

Kara Goucher secured a World Championships berth with a runner-up finish in 31.16.65 and was delighted to make the world team just nine months after giving birth to her son, Colt. Jennifer Rhines was third in 31:30.37.

Galen Rupp won the men\'s 10,000m in 28:38.17, ahead of Matt Tengenkamp (28:39.97) and Scott Bauhs (28:40.51).

The day\'s other medals were decided on the field.

Stephanie Brown Trafton lined up a chance to add a world title to the Olympic gold she won in Beijing as she triumphed in the discus with a throw of 63.35m.

Aretha Thurmond was second with a throw of 62.87 and Gia Lewis-Smallwood third (60.53).

Christian Taylor won the men\'s triple jump with a leap of 17.49m, aided by a favorable wind of +3.5. William Claye was second with 17.09m, also wind aided, and Walter Davis third (17.02).

Kibwe Johnson won the men\'s hammer with a throw of 80.31m, followed by Michael Mai (74.69m) and Matthew Dibuono (73.06m).

The women\'s shot title went to Michelle Carter with a throw of 19.86m. Jillian Camarena-Williams was second (19.85m) followed by Sarah Stevens-Walker (18.12m).

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