Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco and Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia stayed on course for unprecedented World Championship doubles when they breezed into the final of the 5,000m.
One day after capturing his fourth consecutive 1,500 title, the Moroccan ace came in fourth in his heat and easily qualified for Sunday's 5,000 final. No man has ever won the 1,500 and 5,000 titles at one world championship.
"I only slept 3 1/2 hours last night with the joy and excitement, I couldn't sleep," El Guerrouj said. "I'm very excited and motivated, especially after my gold medal in the 1,500 last night. I'm on form."
El Guerrouj led his heat until the final meters, when he eased up and allowed three other runners to pass him. With top five in each heat assured of berths in the final, the Moroccan didn't have to push.
Bekele, who is also bidding for a double following his victory in the 10,000, won his heat and eased into the final as well.
Defending champion Richard Limo of Kenya qualified just ahead of El Guerrouj. But the 1999 champion Salah Hissou of Morocco failed to make the final after finishing only eighth in Bekele's heat.
Ahmad Abdullah Hassan of Qatar did not start. Formerly known as Albert Chepkirui, he is one of two Kenyans who became Qatari citizens this summer. The second is Saif Saeed Shaheen, formerly known as Stephen Cherono, who won the 3,000m steeplechase final.
Allen Johnson of the US, looking for his fourth title in the 110-meter hurdles, cleared the first obstacle by winning his heat in 13.42. But Stanislavs Olijars of Latvia, second fastest this season and winner of the Berlin meet, pulled up after two hurdles with a thigh injury and quit.
Wilson Kipketer of Denmark, the world record holder who is also seeking his fourth 800m title, advanced from the first round, finishing just behind defending champion Andre Bucher of Switzerland in their heat.
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