Shelly-Ann Fraser of Jamaica competes in the women's 100m semi-final at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics (© Getty Images)
If yesterday's early rounds hinted that something special for brewing in the women's 100m then the semi-finals definitely confirmed this fact.
In the first semi-final Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser produced a scintillating 10.79 to win in the fastest legal women's 100m semi-final in global championship history.
Her Jamaican team-mate and World No.1 Kerron Stewart took the runner-up spot in a none-too shabby 10.84 as the women in the distinctive yellow and green of Jamaican dominated.
Also advancing were the 2005 World champion Lauryn Williams, who finished third in a season's best 11.01, and Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie of the Bahamas in fourth (11.03).
Trinidad's Kelly-Ann Baptiste just missed out on a place in the final with 11.07 in fifth.
Fraser benefited from a blistering start and dictated the race from the outset. Stewart did close in on the diminutive Jamaican in the second half of the race but the Olympic champion held on for a hugely impressive win - just 0.01 behind her personal best time set in Beijing last year.
In the second semi-final the powerhouse Carmelita Jeter blitzed to victory in a new personal best of 10.83 - 0.09 off her previous quickest time.
The American athlete bossed the race from the 30m mark and won the race at a canter with seemingly a lot more in the tank.
The defending World champion Veronica Campbell-Brown safely advanced in second in 11.00, but although she looked smooth the Jamaican knows she faces a massive task to retain her title.
Chandra Sturrup, who made the best start, finished third in 11.01 to qualify for her fifth World Championships 100m final. Aleen Bailey in fourth also earned safe passage through to the final in 11.16 to ensure four Jamaican women will line up in the final.
The US Championships runner-up, though, Muna Lee failed to advance. She finished fifth in 11.18
Steve Landells for the IAAF
