KINGSTON, Jamaica – There were no surprises in the men’s 200m semi-finals as the main contenders, led by Yohan Blake, advanced on day three of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA)/Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) National Senior Championships at the National Stadium on Saturday.

With the World and Olympic Champion Usain Bolt being unable to line up due to injury, Blake now looks set to take the double when the race gets under way at 6:40 pm on Sunday.

The Racers Track Club representative cruised to 20.29 seconds to win semi-final three in a positive 1.0 metres per second wind speed. He won ahead of Everton Clarke (20.45s) of GC Foster College and 2014 Commonwealth Games champion Rasheed Dwyer (20.46s) of Sprintec, who advanced with one of the fastest times.

Earlier, Julian Forte, who false started in the 100m, made amends by clocking 20.21 seconds in a comfortable manner to win semi-final one in a headwind of 0.1 metres per second.

World and Olympic medallist Warren Weir (20.74s) of Racers Track Club was second.

Nickel Ashmeade of Pure Athletics survived another false start scare to win semi-final two in 20.48 seconds in a tail wind of 0.5 metres per second. Renard Howell (20.52s) was second with Oshane Bailey (20.57s) of Sprintec also advancing with one of the fastest times.

Sherdon Cowan