Freeman safely through
Briton Emily Freeman progressed to the second round of the women's 200m on Tuesday as all the big guns made it through.
Last Updated: 19/08/08 5:43am
Briton Emily Freeman progressed to the second round of the women's 200m on Tuesday as all the big guns made it through.
Freeman, Team GB's only competitor in this event, finished second in her heat in a time of 22.95secs.
She beat Jamaican medal fancy Kerron Stewart into third place, with Bahrain's Roqaya Al-Gassra winning the race in 22.81.
The 27-year-old from Huddersfield said: "I'm pleased to get the first one over with. It was nerve racking because I've not run for a while but I'm happy enough.
"It was quite quick, I didn't want to slow down too much and get people coming past you at the last minute. My goal is to get a personal best and see how far that takes me.
"I might need a PB just to get through to the semi-finals."
The two favourites, America's world champion Allyson Felix and Jamaica's defending champion Veronica Campbell-Brown, both won their heats - Felix ran 23.02 with Campbell-Brown just 0.02secs slower.
American Muna Lee was the fastest qualifier for Tuesday evening's second round, posting a time of 22.71.
Her US team-mate Marshevet Hooker also progressed, as did the third Jamaican, Sherone Simpson.
The only surprise was the withdrawal of European champion Kim Gevaert before the start. The Belgian had disappointed in the 100m and was conspicuous by her absence when the heats got under way.
