Jamaica's Seville steals US thunder in 100m heats

BUDAPEST :Jamaican Oblique Seville put the United States on warning that they will have their work cut out for another world 100 metres sweep when he posted the fastest time of the first round on Saturday with an impressive 9.86 second run.

Jamaica have not triumphed in the blue ribband event since the last of Usain Bolt's golds in 2015, with the U.S. winning the three since then, including a podium sweep last year.

Seville's time matched his personal best, was the third-fastest in the world this year and brought him home ahead of defending champion and event favourite Fred Kerley.

The duo had to deal with a long delay before their heat, which then featured two false starts, and Kerley barely got out of second gear to come home in 9.99, watching the action on the big screen as he eased down.

"I am very surprised by that, I never expected it in the first round," said Seville, who finished fourth in last year's final.

"I've been through some dark places but this shows I'm on the way now and can run with the best and I've got much more to come. Being able to stay with Fred Kerley in the lane beside me was great. That was something I will carry to the semi-finals.

"We can give those Americans a scare. The Jamaicans are coming, definitely."

American Noah Lyles won his heat in 9.95 seconds while easing up and running in lane nine. Former champion Christian Coleman also advanced safely but surprise U.S. champion Cravont Charleston went out as he clocked 10.18 to finish fifth in his heat.

Lyles's time was initially flagged as 9.82 seconds but was soon adjusted to a more realistic number.

"I'm going to run sub-10 every round and get faster and faster and the final will be won in whatever time I run," said Lyles, the double world champion