Anthony Foster, Star Writer

World's fastest Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell were hardly troubled on the opening day of the National Championships and easily qualified for the next round.

Running out of lane six, Bolt took control of the race in the early phase and eased off the pedal midway before winning in 10.14secs, but only after the race had been held up by three false starts.

disappointment

Bolt, despite expressing his disappointment with the race being called back three times, was not too perturbed by the result.

"It was all right," Bolt said. "After staying in the blocks so long, I did not want to explode," he added.

In the second heat, Powell, the former men's 100m record holder, cruised to victory in a time of 10.36.

"The aim was to get out and in front and stay there," Powell said.

Powell's MVP teammate, Michael Frater, also looked in control, taking heat three in 10.26, while Bolt's teammate, Yohan Blake, won heat four in 10.16 seconds.

Earlier, in the 400m hurdles preliminary, Isa Phillips led the qualifiers into today's final. Phillips won his heat in 48.96 to lead heat two winner Danny McFarlane (49.97) and Dean Griffiths (50.99).

In the women's 400m, Shericka Williams (51.88), Novlene Williams-Mills (52.50) and Bobby-Gaye Wilkins (52.39) were heat winners. Julian Reid (16.19m) and Jovanne Jarrett (6.75m) were the male triple jump and women's long-jump winners.

competitive heats

In the men's 400m, which saw four competitive heats, Ricardo Chambers leads the qualifiers with a time of 46.03. Sanjay Ayre, who was second to Chambers in heat one, advanced with his 46.31. Heat two went to Lansford Spence in 46.20, ahead of Dane Hyatt (46.22) and Chumaine Fitten (46.81).

In the final heat, which turned out to be the hottest, Jermaine Gonzales, who recovered from a slow start, caught and beat Leford Green with a time of 46.14.

Marvin Essor, who also overtook Green, was second in 46.47. Green ended third in 46.64. In the men's 800m, Aldwyn Sappleton (1:52.23), Ricardo Cunningham (1:52.46), André Drummonds (1:52.62) and Rayan Lawrence (1:52.87) are the top qualifiers.