GB relay team eyes gold

Christian Malcolm, Craig Pickering, Devonish and fellow Olympic Games gold medallist Mark Lewis-Francis finished second in their heat behind a flying Brazil in 38.33 seconds.

With defending World champions France and Helsinki silver medallists Trinidad & Tobago absent from the field, Great Britain's chances of eclipsing the bronze medal they landed two years ago look strong.

But with Jamaica setting a world leading time of 38.02secs minus 200m silver medallist Usain Bolt and the USA looking strong in setting a season's best mark of 38.10secs without double sprint World champion Tyson Gay, another smooth and error free display at the weekend will be required.

Hosts Japan also look like a potent force in setting a new Asian record of 38.21secs with the same team who have raced together all year, meaning Great Britain will need to better the 38.27secs which landed bronze in Helsinki.

"It was very professional and I am happy with that run," Devonish said. "We didn't push it too hard, we looked comfortable, passed the baton comfortably and we are looking forward to the final.

"We are not worrying about anybody else, when it comes to putting it down in the final we deliver. We are going to put the pressure on everybody else and hopefully get in a position where we can win."

Devonish finished sixth in the individual 100m final in 10.14secs, while Lewis-Francis and Pickering bowed out in the semi-finals, but the 31-year-old Coventry Godiva sprinter insists there is still more in the tank.

"We are all going to be running harder, I have to say I was running quite comfortably, I didn't push it as hard as I know I can do," he added. "I'm fine after the 100m, the body is holding up very well and I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

"I had a good few days break, it was hard to watch the 200 because I would have loved to be in that, but I sacrificed that to take part in the relay so I am being professional and getting on with it."

Team-mate Malcolm, who along with Lewis-Francis made up the final team in Helsinki, added: "We are pretty confident, but it's not going to be easy tomorrow. Both the Americans and Jamaicans look good."

Asafa Powell was smiling again after anchoring Jamaica to the quickest time of the year.

The world record holder was beaten by American rival Gay in the 100m final last weekend, finishing with the bronze and admitting after the race he had choked under the pressure.

But Powell looked a completely different man in the first round of 4x100 relay heats, erasing a sizeable lead at the final changeover to streak past American Leroy Dixon, bringing Jamaica home in 38.02 seconds.

Powell, who holds the world record of 9.77 over 100m, immediately targeted a new best on Saturday in the relay after driving the Jamaican team to a new national record.

"That national record is going to stand for a long time," smiled Powell. "The world record (37.4) is within reach. You know we can break that world record if we do what we did today."

The American team finished behind the Jamaicans in a 38.10 with hosts Japan third fastest in the opening round in an Asian record of 38.21.

The men's 4x100m final takes place on Saturday.

Britain suffered a disappointing evening elsewhere in the stadium. Michael Rimmer was a disppointing sixth in his men's 800m semi-final.

Abby Westley came eighth in a remarkably slow first women's 1500m semi before Lisa Dobriskey also crashed out despite running eight seconds faster. She came home in 10th position - nearly two seconds outside the qualifying mark.