Dizzy Usain Bolt advances to second round in 200 meters at world championships

BERLIN — Looking for his second gold medal of the world championships, Usain Bolt easily advanced to the second round of the 200 meters Tuesday.

Two days after setting a world record of 9.58 seconds to win the 100, Bolt was sleepy coming into the stadium and still set the early morning alight by winning his heat, even though his 20.70 was 1.40 off his world record.

“All right,” was all the biggest star of the championships said of his performance.

Bolt was as short on words as on antics. Even his playacting was subdued, putting both hands to his cheeks and pushing his head into them to show how sleepy he was.

In the absence of injured American and defending champion Tyson Gay, Bolt is the overwhelming favorite for gold. British sprinter Dwain Chambers also pulled out of the event due to an injury after finishing sixth in the 100 final.

Shawn Crawford, the 2004 Olympic champion, had the top qualifying time of 20.60 during a session slowed by chilly temperatures under an overcast sky at the Olympic Stadium. Steve Mullings of Jamaica was second in 20.62.

“I did what I was supposed to do,” Crawford said. “I tried to get as many cobwebs out as I could.”

The U.S. team needs to do so fast if it is to challenge the Jamaicans for sprint supremacy at the championships. They lost 5-0 in Olympic titles at the Beijing Games and are already 2-0 behind after the 100s. The specter of another rout is looming ever larger, especially with Gay out for the 200 and doubtful for the relays.

The final for the 200 is set for Thursday. Bolt is also favored to lead Jamaica to a sprint relay gold on Saturday to equal his feat of three golds at the Beijing Olympics.

Late Monday, Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser led a 1-2 Jamaican finish in the women’s 100, again leaving the Americans wondering how they will ever keep one of those sleek yellow jerseys behind them.

With her Jamaican record, Fraser joined Christine Arron of France as the third-best runner in history, behind the late Florence Griffith-Joyner and the disgraced Marion Jones.

In the discus, overpowering Olympic and defending world champion Gerd Kanter qualified on his first throw with a toss of 66.73 meters, easily beating the qualifying mark of 64.50.

“A very easy throw, controlled and enough to qualify and save my energy for the final,” Kanter said.

Late Tuesday, there are finals in men’s triple jump, steeplechase and 400 hurdles, and the women’s javelin and 400.