Germany's Martin Keller looks dejected after his team mates don't get the baton round to him in the second of the men's 4x100m in Berlin (© Getty Images)
The heats of the 4x100m Relay are renowned for throwing up surprises at the best of times, but the horrendous conditions tonight in Berlin set the scene for more carnage than usual.
But somewhat surprisingly all the big guns made it safely through to tomorrow's final. Unfortunately for the host nation however, the only team to fail in getting the baton around safely were Germany in the third and final heat.
But first up were Trinidad & Tobago with a team that featured two of the 100m finalists - Marc Burns on second and Richard Thompson in fourth. Along with Darrell Brown on first and Keston Bledman on third, the Olympic 4x100m silver medallists got the baton around safely in 38.47 seconds, while an impressive full-strength Japanese team finished a close second in 38.53.
Former World Champions France - boosted by an amazing anchor leg run from junior Christophe Lemaitre - were third with a season's best of 38.59. With just the first two of each heat to progress with the two fastest losers, the French team was made to wait on the results of the other heats, but ultimately it was the fastest of the non-automatic qualifiers.
Brazil, who finished fourth in Osaka and Beijing, finished behind France in 38.72 and they soon found it was not enough to advance.
Finishing fifth and sixth were Switzerland (39.47) and South Africa (39.71), the latter team being anchored by 400m hurdles specialist LJ van Zyl!
Defending champions USA came up against former Olympic champions Great Britain in heat two. Fielding the same team that clocked 37.85 in Cottbus earlier this month, the US quartet of Terrence Trammell, Mike Rodgers, Shawn Crawford and Darvis Patton put together a series of solid changeovers to take the victory in 37.97.
[After examining the video of the race, the Referee disqualified the USA Team. The USA filed an appeal. The Jury of Appeal examined the case, and upheld the decision of the Referee. The USA id DQed and Brazil advances to the next round as the with the second fastest time]
The British team of Simeon Williamson, Tyrone Edgar, Marlon Devonish and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey were close behind every step of the way and clocked a season's best of 38.11. Canada, anchored by Brian Barnett, grabbed the last of the fastest loser spots with 38.60 in third. The Netherlands finished didth in 38.95, ahead of Portugal (39.25) and Ghana (39.61).
The rain had stopped by the time the third heat got underway and all eyes were on the Jamaican team. Only one of the World record-setting team members, Michael Frater, formed part of today's team, but today wasn't about fast times - it was all about getting a lane in the final.
With Lerone Clarke on first, 200m finalist Steve Mullings on third and 110m Hurdles finalist Dwight Thomas on anchor, the team was probably not as well-rehearsed as their all-star line-up. But they overcame a couple of shaky changeovers to finish second in 38.60, guaranteeing their spot in the final and keeping Bolt's dream of three world records alive.
A full-strength Italian team (Roberto Donati, Simone Collio, Emmanuel Di Gregorio and Fabio Cerutti) were surprise winners of the third heat, clocking a season's best of 38.52. It is the first time since winning bronze in 1995 that Italy has made the 4x100 final.
But Germany's day-seven misfortunes continued as Marius Broening on leg two failed to get the baton to a fast-starting Alexander Kosenkow, resulting in the sole DNF of the whole round.
Australia finished behind Jamaica with 38.93 and Thailand were fourth (39.73), while the Polish team did not start.
All four of the past global championship-winning 4x100m teams (Jamaica, USA, France and Great Britain) are all safely through. But with Asafa Powell a doubt for the 4x100m final, can Bolt and his Jamaican team-mates make it three world records in a row?
Jon Mulkeen for the IAAF
