BEIJING -- Two U.S. favourites failed in the final meters of their quest for Olympic gold Tuesday, allowing the footloose Jamaicans to continue their domination at the Bird's Nest.
Sanya Richards, premiering a fashionable track suit for her finest moment, could not produce her finishing kick, and lost a seemingly certain title to Christine Ohuruogu of Britain 30 metres from of the line in the 400 metres.
Shericka Williams also outran Richards in the closing stages, adding one more twist to the Jamaican domination of the Americans in the shorter races.
LoLo Jones, another great U.S. athlete with star appeal, had the 100 hurdles race clinched with two jumps left, but she smashed her spike into the hurdle and stumbled to the line, crossing with scream of outrage before crumbling to the track in misery.
This time, it was another American profiting when Dawn Harper took over to win in a personal best 12.54 seconds. Jones's rough finish allowed Priscilla Lopes-Schliep to win bronze inher Olympic debut.
The disastrous finishes nowhere near compared with Usain Bolt's breeze through the Games.
The 100 world record holder took another stroll around the Bird's Nest, running the 200 fast enough to keep his challenge for a golden triple going at the expense of his American challengers.
The Jamaicans also dominated U.S. runners in the women's 200 semifinals, raising hopes an unlikely sweep will be clinched during the weekend relays.
Jamaica is already leading the United States 2-0 with both 100 titles, and Bolt is the overwhelming favourite for Wednesday's 200 final. It seems the only question is whether he will break Michael Johnson's world record.
And on Wednesday, he promised to run through to the line.
"I'm just going to run my heart out and hope for the best," Bolt said.
In seven races so far, he has not once pushed himself, even coasting to a world record in the 100 in 9.69 seconds, .03 faster than his previous mark.
Bolt came out of the bend ahead of main challenger Shawn Crawford, looked down at him with 50 meters to go and then up at the giant screen in the stands to watch his competitors struggled in his wake.
"I wouldn't say jogging," Bolt said. "I'm just trying to get through to the next round."
Earlier, all three American women and as many Jamaicans got through the quarter-finals without too much trouble in the 200. But in every direct duel it was the Jamaicans coming out in front.
Defending champion Veronica Campbell-Brown coasted across the line ahead of an equally relaxed U.S. favourite Allyson Felix in their heat.
Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart, silver and bronze in the 100, also looked good as they edged Muna Lee and Marshevet Hooker in their races.
For Felix, who surprisingly did not make the U.S. team in the 100, there was little unexpected about the strong Jamaican showing here.
"The rivalry has always been there. They've always been strong so it's nothing new," Felix said. "I don't think anything's changed just because of what happening in the 100."
After setting a world record in the 100 on Saturday, Bolt has shown no such ambition so far in his preferred event and coasted in qualifying.
All of Jamaica, though, will be counting on him to deliver another gold in Wednesday's final.
Overall, Jamaica could be looking at six golds in sprint events after Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser combined for double gold in the 100.
In the absence of injured defending champion Liu Xiang, world record-holder Dayron Robles took centre stage with aplomb, running away from competition with his smooth skills to become the overwhelming favourite for the title.
David Oliver also had a confidence-boosting run to reach Wednesday's semifinals, establishing himself as Robles' major challenger.
Russia, which had been hit by a spate of doping scandals ahead of the Games, got a fourth gold medal from Andrey Silnov in the high jump. The Russian won with a jump of 2.36 meters, edging Britain's Jamaican-born Germaine Mason at 2.34.
Yaroslav Rybakov got bronze for Russia at 2.34.
In the 5,000, Tirunesh Dibaba remained on course for a long-distance double. The 10,000 champion easily won her heat with Meseret Defar winning the other, setting up another duel for gold between the Ethiopian rivals.
In contrast, there were plenty of shocks in the long jump qualifying.
World indoor champion Naide Gomes of Portugal was the main victim during a brutal day of qualifying.
Joining the year's top performer on the sidelines was five-time world indoor champion Tatyana Kotova, who finished 14th with only the top dozen advancing.
Triple jump bronze medallist Hrysopiyi Devetzi of Greece was also eliminated in 15th place, and triple jump world champion Yargelis Savigne of Cuba lagged in 18th.
The marathon also could miss a big player. Stefano Baldini of Italy is uncertain whether he will defend his title Sunday.
The Italian injured his right thigh Friday and has not been able to prepare in ideal conditions for the concluding event of the track program.
No injury has been talked about more than the one that kept Liu Xiang from defending his 110 hurdles title at home. On Tuesday, even Liu was finally talking about it.
China's great hope for track glory at the Beijing Games said he was sorry for his surprising withdrawal but that he had no choice because pain from a foot injury became unbearable.
"There's so many people concerned about me and who support me. I feel very sorry. But there's really nothing I could do," a downcast, disconsolate Liu said.
