Niko Verekauta out of Olympics

Fiji's 400 metre sprinter Niko Verekauta is out of the Beijing Olympics after he failed to qualify for the semi-final after his heat three race this afternoon.

Verekauta clocked a personal best time of 46.32 seconds and finished in fourth place despite going into the race with the slowest time.

He finished behind Nery Brenes of Costa Rica who came first in a time of 45.36 seconds, Godday James of Nigeria in second place in a time of 45.49 seconds and Andretti Bain from the Bahamas in 45.96 seconds who all have qualified to the semi-finals.

The former Suva Grammar School sprinter finshed ahead of athletes from Brazil, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Sudan.

With Verekauta out it means that all of Fiji's athletes are out of the Beijing Olympic.

Jamaica's Usain Bolt eased through to the second round of the 200m after cruising through his first heat.

Bolt, who set a new 100m record on Sunday, jogged the second half of the race to finish behind Trinda's Rondell Sorillo in 20.64 seconds.

The 21 year old's American rivals Walter Dix, Wallace Spearmon and Shawn Crawford also qualified. Defending 200m champion Crawford who qualified in 20.61 seconds is refusing to give up his title without a fight.

The current medal tally sees China on the lead with 35 gold, 13 silver and 13 bronze.

USA at second place with 19 gold, 21 silver and 25 bronze while Great Britian at 3rd spot with 11 gold, 6 silver and 8 bronze.