Jamaican world record holder Asafa Powell (R) leads Henry Anson of Canada to win the men's 100-m heat during the Commonwealth Games 2006 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), 19 March 2006. AFP PHOTO / William WEST

The 23-year-old Jamaican has yet to win an individual medal at a championships and despite having barely raced in the past year because of injury he looked the part as he won his second round heat in some style.

Powell toyed with the opposition as he burst from the blocks and he slowed to a jog with 40m to go timing a leisurely 10.29secs.

He strolled over the line with Anson Henry of Canada in second while English hope Mark Lewis-Francis was third and the veteran Nigerian Deji Aliu was fourth.

Despite the ease of the victory Powell shook his head in what looked like disappointment or possibly injury and ran straight through to the changing rooms.

Lewis-Francis, who failed to finish in the 2002 final, said that he had had to make up for a bad start.

"I missed the start completely but I stepped up really quick and just did enough to get through," said the 23-year-old, who has changed coaches in a bid to reignite his career.

"My body is up to speed but my head is not quite there. Monday is a different day and I am still feeling confident."

There was a bit of a shock with the exit of Trinidad's highly-rated youngster Darrel Brown as the 21-year-old world silver medallist from 2003 failed to get going as he finished a disappointing sixth.

Frater easily bested Patrick Johnson of Australia in their heat with the 23-year-old Jamaican coasting home in 10.25sec, the 33-year-old mercurial homeboy timing 10.33 in second while the other two qualifying spots for the semi-finals went to Soji Fasuba of Nigeria and Trinidadian Jacey Harper.

Harper's more highly-rated team-mate Marc Burns also progressed as last year's world finalist finished second behind the vastly-experienced Ghanaian Aziz Zakari in their heat.

Zakari, who has a habit of reaching finals and then not finishing them, looked impressive in winning in 10.36sec while Burns did what he had to do - Australia's Nigerian-born sprinter Ambrose Ezenwa took third while Ainsley Waugh of Jamaica captured the last qualifying spot.

Waugh's joy was Jason Gardener's despair as the Englishman - the 2004 world indoor 60m champion and Olympic 4x100m relay hero - finished fifth and looked like he had failed to recover from the back spasm that affected him late last week.

It meant the 30-year-old's gamble to miss the world indoors in Moscow and go for gold here had backfired badly.

However his fellow hero from the Athens Olympic relay team Marlon Devonish had no such problems as the 29-year-old 1998 Commonwealth Games 200m champion finished second in his heat.

Experienced Nigerian Uchenna Emedolu won the race while Australian Joshua Ross made sure all three of the home hopes went through to the semi-finals as he took third while South Africa's Sherwin Vries filled fourth.