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Bolt, Powell, Gay cruise to 100 semifinals

BEIJING (AP) — Far ahead halfway through his 100-meter Olympic quarterfinal, Usain Bolt casually swiveled his head to his right, to his left, then back to his right.

Never hurts to check. No one was nearby — hardly surprising, given how quickly the 6-foot-5 Bolt's long strides carried his golden spikes. So the world record-holder slowed to what for him amounts to a jog.

He still crossed in 9.92 seconds, a time that makes it the fastest dash ever run in China, a time that would have earned a medal at all but two previous Summer Games and a time that fails to reflect how effortless Bolt's performance was.

The Jamaican licked his lips, checked the scoreboard and pumped a fist, his untucked yellow sleeveless shirt rippling. The message, to himself and to rivals Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay, was unmistakable:

Bring on Saturday's 100 semifinals and final.

"I just ran the first 50 meters, then I looked around to make sure I was safe, and I shut it off," Bolt said Friday night. "I'm ready for my best."

Goodness. Remember, this is a guy who said as recently as last week that he wasn't sure whether he would race the 100 — an event he only began pursuing seriously this year — in addition to his specialty, the 200, at these Olympics.

"He's a phenomenal athlete," said Darvis Patton of the United States, who also advanced to the semifinals.

Bolt, his Jamaican teammate Powell and U.S. record-holder Gay — the reigning world champion who hadn't raced in 1 1/2 months because of a left leg injury — all advanced without a hitch through two 100 heats Friday, when the 10-day track and field competition opened.More

*Is giddy with anticipation*