British athletes Adam Gemili, Dwain Chambers and James Dasaolu have missed out on the 100 metres final at the Olympic Stadium.
Gemili, 18, recovered from a poor start to snatch third on the line behind world champion Yohan Blake and former world champion Tyson Gay in 10.06, while Chambers (10.05) was fourth in his semi and 10th fastest overall and Dasaolu (10.18) seventh in the first semi.
Seven of the eight qualifiers ran under 10 seconds as defending champion Usain Bolt looked close to his best.
Bolt was only the third fastest qualifier overall in 9.87 seconds, but the Jamaican athlete was easing down from a long way out despite having being slowest out of the blocks.
Gemili only started concentrating on athletics in January after calling time on his football career, but won the world junior title in Barcelona last month and has been tipped for greatness by Gay.
"For me it feels really, really good that I was able to come in here and do well, show what I can do," he said. "I feel there was more to come and I didn't get to show it but that wasn't meant to be, but to come third against two of the best sprinters in the world at the moment isn't too bad.
"The crowd really gee you up and give you a boost. I was feeling good and feeling relaxed, I just wanted to go out there and run.
"It has definitely given me a taste for more. I am going to go back to the drawing board and work hard with my coach and hopefully come out next year and run even quicker.
"I think I just need to keep doing what I'm doing."
British duo Ross Murray and Andy Baddeley failed to reach the final of the 1,500m after finishing 10th and eighth respectively in their semi-finals, while Britain's world indoor champion Yamile Aldama was fifth with a best of 14.48m in the final round in the women's triple jump.