Tyson Gay, Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell remained on course for an epic three-way battle in track's marquee Olympic event, all easily advancing Friday into the semifinals of the 100 meters. Tirunesh Dibaba already wrote her piece of history late Friday, becoming only the second woman in the world to run the 10,000 meters in under 30 minutes to add the Olympic title to two world titles. The 22-year-old Ethiopian swept past Ethiopian-born Turk Elvan Abeylegesse with 350 meters to go to finish in 29 minutes 54.66 seconds, an Olympic record. Only Wang Jungxia of China has run faster, setting the world record of 29:31.78 in 1993. The whiff of an Olympic record, even a world record, will be in the air Saturday when the titans of sprinting line up for their semifinal and final races. Running in ideal conditions, Gay allayed fears that a lingering hamstring strain would affect his performance at the Beijing Games, coasting in both his heat and quarterfinal to go through. The Americans could use a confidence boost after their shot putters, instead of sweeping the medals, needed a last effort from Christian Cantwell to salvage one, a silver behind Tomasz Majewski. The Pole threw one lifetime best after another to win the games' first track gold with a toss of 21.51 meters. Andrei Mikhnevich of Belarus took bronze. The US result was a shocker. Two-time Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson had three fouls and did not even make the final three throws. Reese Hoffa finished a poor seventh. Saudi Arabia's Sultan Abdulmajeed Al-Hebshi finished 27th in the qualifying round throwing the iron ball to a distance of 19.51 meters. It was a disappointing day for Saudi Arabia as its Mohammed Othman finished 44 in 1500m, clocking 3:45.82. Gay, 100m world champion, finished second behind Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago in his quarterfinal in 10.09 seconds, easing up well before the finishing line. No one was as awesome as Bolt, though. At the halfway mark the world record-holder from Jamaica eased up, looked left and right – not once, but twice – and with 9.92 still ran the fastest time ever in China. In the 1,500m, Kenyan-born American Bernard Lagat successfully set off on his quest for a 1,500-5,000 double, easily reaching the semifinals by finishing fourth in his opening heat. In the individual 800m, Kenyans Pamela Jelimo and Janeth Jepkosgei breezed through into Saturday's semifinals, easily winning their heats. The showdown between the two in Monday's final is one of the most anticipated races of the games. Sydney 2000 Olympic champion Maria Mutola is in her final major competition before retiring at the end of the year, but still had the fastest qualifying time of 1:58.91. – AP __
