Li Sha of China in the women's Trple Jump (© Getty Images)
Billed as the battle between the Pole, Tomasz Majewski, and the Americans it is the former who goes into tonight's final holding the psychological edge after leading the morning qualifiers.
Majewski, the Olympic champion and world No.1, looked simply imperious qualifying courtesy of an impressive first round effort of 21.19. Job done.
By contrast the Americans made harder work of what should have been a fairly routine automatic qualification distance of 20.30m.
Defending world champion Reese Hoffa battled through to tonight's final but looked a little sluggish producing a modest best of 20.23m. The US athlete was certainly relaxed, maybe too relaxed as he posed and smiled into the TV camera before qualification, but he will need to find more if he is to secure back to back world titles.
Olympic silver medallist Christian Cantwell advanced with a second round effort of 20.63m, although it was one more attempt than he probably wanted inside a hot Olympic Stadium which was bathed in sunshine.
The 2005 champion Adam Nelson - the fourth ranked American - needed only one attempt to progress. A first round effort of 20.50m ensured the wily campaigner will be back later tonight.
However, Daniel Taylor of the US was a surprise casualty of qualification. The World No.4 mustered a best effort of 19.23m in round three following two fouls and will not return for tonight's final.
Belarus made their point during qualification that the battle for medals may not purely be the concern of Majewski and the Americans by producing the second and third longest qualifiers. Former European Indoor silver medallist Pavel Lyzhyn produced an eye-catching 20.72m with World and Olympic bronze medallist Andrei Mikhnevich achieving a mark of 20.65m.
The biggest cheer during qualification, though, was reserved for Germany's European champion Ralf Bartels, who advanced to the final with a third round attempt of 20.41m. His countryman Peter Sack (20.20m) will also feature.
Steve Landells for the IAAF
