Veronica Campbell (right) and Kadiatou Camara of Mali (left) progress from their 200m heat (© Getty Images)
They probably didn't want to be in the same heat at this stage of the competition but that's what they got.
The 'big two' - World champion Allyson Felix of the USA and Jamaica's Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown - head to head in heat one of round two.
Well if either gained a psychological edge from heat one of round two it was probably Campbell-Brown who drew first blood, although both looked very easy.
The Jamaican made the more impressive start and held a one metre lead from Felix into the home stretch. At one point she opened up a two metre advantage, although the gap was reduced to about a metre at the finish line. Campbell clocking 22.64 - 0.13 clear of Felix.
In a loaded heat the third automatic qualifying position went to Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, the 2001 World 200m champion, of the Bahamas in 22.77. Cydonie Mothersill, of the Cayman Islands, was one of the four next fastest to advance to tomorrow night's semi-finals recording 22.83 for fourth.
Bahrain's Asian Games 200m champion Roqaya Al-Gassra was an eye-catching winner of her morning heat and backed this up with a second round victory in heat two. Al-Gassra, 25, held a slight advantage entering the home straight and powered away from the oppositon to cross the line in 22.76.
Former European champion Muriel Hurtis-Houairi of France secured second in 22.89 - 0.05 clear of the third automatic qualifier Susanthika Jayasinghe, the 2000 Olympic bronze medallist, of Sri Lanka.
Heat three served up a surprise as Yuliya Chermonshanskaya, the European Under-23 champion, shattered her PB by 0.14 to win in 22.63. The 22-year-old Russian finished like an express train from lane nine to cross the line first and even put her hands to her mouth in surprise at what she had achieved.
Before Chermonshanskaya's late surge the heat had been dominated by Jamaica's Olympic 100m silver medallist Kerron Stewart and US Trials third place finisher Marshevet Hooker. Both qualified comfortably. Stewart in 22.74 and Hooker in 22.76.
The fourth heat ensured a full complement of three Jamaican and three US athletes progressed to the semi-finals.
Sherone Simpson, who had featured in Jamaica's clean sweep of the podium in the 100m final on Sunday by sharing the silver medal, attacked the bend to advance fastest from the quarter finals in 20.60.
Muna Lee, of the USA, bagged second in 22.83. Great Britain's Emily Freeman finished strongly to claim the third automatic spot in 22.95.
Steve Landells for the IAAF
