Bolt cruises into 200m semi-finals

BEIJING  - Jamaica's Usain Bolt, searching for an elusive Olympic sprint double, cruised into the semi-finals of the men's 200m here on Monday in another effortless display of sprinting.

Bolt, who bettered his own world record when he won the 100m on Saturday, came off the bend well in front and eased off with fully 50 metres to go, crossing the line in what looked like nothing more than a saunter.

He timed 20.29 seconds, with defending 200m champion Shawn Crawford of the United States in second at 20.42sec and veteran Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis stealing third from Briton Marlon Cavendish.

The 21-year-old Bolt, who has run the three fastest 200m times this year including the fifth fastest ever - 19.67sec in Athens - is bidding for a first Olympic sprint double since American Carl Lewis achieved the feat at the Los Angeles Games in 1984.