Chambers through to semis

Chambers hit peak form in Paris Pictures from Paris

Gold medal hope Dwain Chambers progressed to the semi-finals of the men's 100m after a controversial second round of heats marred by a sit-down protest from American Jon Drummond.

Chambers finished second in his heat in a season's best 10.03secs behind Commonwealth champion Kim Collins, who won in 10.02, with defending champion Maurice Greene third in 10.04secs.

Fellow Britons Darren Campbell and Mark Lewis-Francis also qualified, finishing second and fourth in the third heat, won by 18-year-old Trinidadian Darrel Brown in a new world junior record of 10.01.

World record holder Tim Montgomery also showed signs of returning to form, winning his quarter-final heat in 10.04.

Drummond takes centre stage

But the heats were overshadowed by the antics of American Jon Drummond, who refused to leave the track after being disqualified for a second false-start in the second heat.

Kelly Holmes safely made it into the 800m final with a strong semi-final run.

Holmes finished second in 1:58:86, behind her training partner Maria Mutola, the favourite for gold.

Holmes (right) followed favourite Mutola home

"I am very pleased with that," said Holmes, who must also decide whether she runs the 1500m too. "It gives me a boost to know I am in quite good shape."

But Jo Fenn, who has made a determined comeback from injury, failed to qualify as a fastest loser, despite battling to third place in the first heat.

There was more disappointment for Daniel Caines as he narrowly failed to reach the 400m final despite a season's best 45.29secs in finishing third in his semi-final.

Defending champion Avard Moncur and European champion Ingo Schultz also missed out in a tough heat, won by American favourite Tyree Washington in 44.60 secs.

Frenchman Leslie Djhone finished second to qualify, as did compatriot Marc Raquil, who finished strongly to clinch victory in the third semi-final, with Jamaica's Michael Blackwood second.

Americans Jerome Young and Calvin Harrison also progressed after a one-two finish in the first heat.

In the women's event, Lee McConnell reached the next round of the 400m flat after finishing third in her heat in 51.67.

Britain's Joice Maduaka failed to reach the final of the women's 100m, finishing last in her first major semi-final.

But Natasha Danvers squeezed into the semi-finals of the 400m hurdles, albeit as a fastest loser after a disappointing fourth-place finish in her heat.

Kluft takes heptathlon gold

Denise Lewis must also be satisfied after finishing a creditable fifth in the heptathlon in her first major championships for three years.

Wolverhampton's Karl Keska produced a season's best to finish ninth in the 10,000m in 27 mins 47.89secs while Ireland's Cathal Lombard was 18th.

Keska is one of just three distance runners representing Britain in Paris and he now goes on to contest the 5,000m.