No slip-ups for Devers

Devers has so far justified her billing as favourite

Gail Devers, who tripped when yards from Olympic gold in the 100m hurdles in Barcelona, made no mistakes as she booked her place in the semi-finals in Sydney.

Devers clocked a time of 12.62s, the fastest of the day, in winning her first round heat, but needed only to post a time of 12.75s to win her heat in round two.

Britain's Diane Allahgreen set a season's best time of 13.11s as she qualified as a fastest loser from the first round but the pace was too hot for her in round two and she finished last in her heat.

Olga Shishigina set the fastest time in round two by winning the second heat and she was followed home by Sharon Couch of the USA and Nicole Ramalalanirina of France.

Melissa Morrison of the USA took heat one in a time of 12.76 followed by Glory Alozie of Nigeria whose fiance was tragically killed in an accident just before the Games began.

"The thought (of pulling out) entered my mind but that's not who I am," said Alozie after winning her first round heat.

"I've trained hard to be here and this is where God wants me to be."