LaShawn Merritt of the US celebrates the US winning the men's 4x400 meters relay final at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu on Friday. [Photo by Cui Meng / China Daily]

Sprinter shakes off disappointing 100m, cruises into final of 200m

DAEGU, South Korea - Usain Bolt powered into the world 200m final on Friday, staying firmly on course for redemption after his shocking 100m false-start as Kenya's Vivian Cheruiyot sealed a distance double.

A full house in Daegu gave the Jamaican reigning world and Olympic champion - and world record holder at 19.19 seconds - a rapturous reception when he arrived on the track and the relaxed sprinter played to the gallery as he prepared to race.

Bolt made an impeccable start in the semifinal and came off the bend far in front of the field, easing to victory in 20.31 sec, finding the time to cast several glances over his shoulder at his rivals.

The 25-year-old, who admits he is not in world record shape this season, had insisted he would not dwell on the disappointment of his 100m disqualification as he focuses on Saturday's 200m final.

"Does it look like it?" a smiling Bolt replied when asked whether he was over his 100m disaster. You win some, you lose some, I'm over that now - I made a mistake, I've got to move on.

"The race was great. I tried to execute like my coach told me to do and I did that. I'm focused on getting everything done. I'm happy with myself. Always expect the best from me. I always go out there and do my best."

As introductions were made on the stadium big screen, Bolt danced, gave a six-gun salute and even performed some karate moves, also motioning to the crowd with a finger to his lips to be quiet in tandem with the automated tannoy system - a world away from the desolate figure disqualified from the 100m.

"For me, the 200m is my favorite," Bolt said. "Everyone, all seven people in the final, are my competitors, but there's nobody to beat me because I'm the best and I've got to be really out of shape (for anyone to beat me)."

As he made his way off the track after qualifying, Bolt once more played to the screaming crowd, hurling his spikes into a gaggle of young fans on the tier above. Bolt, world leader over the 200m this season with a run of 19.86 sec in Oslo, Norway, was second in qualifying behind European champion Christophe Lemaitre (20.17sec).

In another show of Kenyan power, Cheruiyot claimed the women's 5000-10,000m double, timing 14 minutes, 55.36 seconds in the 5000m, with compatriot Sylvia Kibet taking silver and Meseret Defar of Ethiopia claiming bronze.

Defending champion Cheruiyot becomes the second woman to achieve this particular distance double after Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba at the Helsinki worlds in 2005.

Agence France-Presse