• World Athletics Championships

Chambers suffers 100m DQ, Bolt into final

ESPN staff
August 28, 2011

Dwain Chambers become the second Team GB athlete in as many days to suffer a heart-breaking disqualification at the World Championships, as he was kicked out of the 100m semi-finals after a false start.

The 33-year-old flinched in his blocks as the first of the three semis was all set to get underway, a clear trigger for the rest of the field that set off the computer sensor and led to his automatic disqualification from the event. But Usain Bolt, running in the second semi, avoided a similar fate - the Jamaican cruising to yet another heat victory in a time of 10.05s.

"There's nothing in my mind at present, just disappointment," Chambers said afterwards. "I've fought hard to get here and all I can do now is support my team. I was very optimistic coming here, but I always knew the semi-finals would be very difficult with only the first two [qualifying] ... but then I false-started."

On his future, he added: "I don't know. I'm going to go back and keep my optimism high. When I get home I'll sit down and review my situation.

"I'll see this situation out and see what opportunities are available."

Chambers' team-mate Marlon Devonish, running alongside Bolt, could only manage to finish seventh in the heat as his 100m campaign came to an end - while Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was also left disappointed as he came third in the final semi, narrowly missing out on both an automatic qualification berth and one of the two fastest loser spots.

In Chambers' absence, the opening semi-final was won by Jamaican Yohan Blake. Blake looks set to be the closest thing to a challenger for Bolt in the final after he ran a time of 9.95s to put down a marker for his compatriot.

France's Christophe Lemaitre also looked fairly impressive as he came second to Bolt in their heat, while 35-year-old Kim Collins rolled back the years to win the final run in a time of just over 10 seconds.

Jimmy Vicaut, Daniel Bailey, American Walter Dix and another Jamaican, Nesta Carter, complete the eight-man lineup for the final - which takes place at 12.45pm on Sunday. But all eyes will be on Bolt to see what time he can run as he looks to defend the title he won in a world record 9.58s in Berlin two years ago.

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