By Gary Smith, TrackAlerts.com contributor
GLASGOW — The big names, including favourite Warren Weir of Jamaica, are through to the semi-finals of the 200m at the Commonwealth Games on Wednesday.
Weir, the 1/6 favourite to strike gold over the half-lap in Glasgow, posted an easy 20.71 seconds to win his heat and he leads three other Jamaicans into the semis.
Jason Livermore of Jamaica won his heat in 20.71 as well, with Rasheed Dwyer, the other Jamaican, running the fourth fastest of the qualifiers, at 20.56.
Qualifying the fastest for the semi-finals was Michael Mathieu from the Bahamas and he ran 20.55, while Andre de Grasse of Canada and England’s Danny Talbot both running 20.56.
Other heat winners were, Ncincilili Titi of South Africa (20.66), Mosito Lehata of Lesotho (20.68), Gavin Smellie of Canada (20.74) and St. Kitts and Nevis’ Antoine Adams (20.88).
Also at Hampden Park on Wednesday in the track and field morning session, Jehue Gordon of Trinidad and Tobago posted 49.42 to qualify for the men’s 400m hurdles final, with Jamaica’s Annsert Whyte following him home second in 49.58 seconds.
The fastest qualifier of the morning though was South African Cornel Fredericks and he ran 49.26seconds to earn his place into the medal race.
The other 400m hurdles heat winner at the Commonwealth Games was Jamaican Roxroy Cato, who clocked 49.51secs, the third quickest heading into the final.
However, defending champion Dai Greene of Wales is disappointingly out after he finished fifth in heat three in 50.36.