By Charmaine Austin, Staff Reporter 
Jamaica's Jermaine Gonzales is clear of his rivals in heat three of the men's 400 metres. Gonzales clocked 46.86 to finish ahead of France's Brice Panel (308) 47.03.
TALK ABOUT life in the fast lane.
Jermaine "Speedy" Gonzales easily won his 400 metres heat in opening round action of the IAAF/Coca Cola World Junior Championships yesterday but is hoping to better his 46.86 seconds when he meets his rivals in the semi-finals of that event at the National Stadium today.
He is hoping for a better run that will get him past Wilan Louis of Barbados and the Americans in particular, and in a lot less time.
Louis had the fastest time of 46.46 seconds going into the semis while American Darold Williamson was .12 faster than the Jamaican.
"The track feels fast. I like it and I'm hoping that tomorrow (today) I'll do well in the semi-finals and advance to the final," Gonzales said.
"Competition is going to be stiff but I'm a strong finisher so I'm not too worried about placing. I just hope to finish in a better time," Gonzales said.
Every athlete, it seems, is out for the Americans.
Another Jamaican, Sheryl Morgan, is also planning to do away with the competition when she runs her 400m semi-final today.
Morgan failed to repeat her year best 52.42 seconds but posted 54.14 to be among the qualifiers.
Her main threats are Monique Henderson (52.81) and Jamaican-born Sanya Richards (53.14), both of the United States.
Tatyana Popova of Russia (53.46), Joanne Cuddihy of Ireland (54.07) and Nigeria's Oluyemi Fagbamila (54.12) will pose problems as well for Morgan but is the Americans that she is watching.
"I'm going to be setting myself up for a medal. I'm going to run hard so I can get a good lane in the final but I'm really looking out for the Americans."
Morgan started well in her heat and picked up pace in the backstretch before pulling away to victory.
This form she hopes to carry into today's race.
