World No1 Reese Hoffa wasted little effort in reaching tonight’s final of the Men’s Shot Put when he qualified from this morning’s elminators with his first effort.

The American champion, who leads the world this year by almost half a metre, took even less time than it takes him to solve a Rubik’s cube (45 seconds) to puzzle out his place in this evening’s final. The head-banded former wrestler launched his first put of the 9th IAAF World Championships to 20.89 metres, the second furthest of the round.

“Other than beating the heat I think the most important was to throw a great distance and qualify. I did that, so I m looking forward to the evening,” said Hoffa. “I will eat something and take a nap to be ready. The circle is great, but it will all be about myself and hitting a good throw. Over 21 metres should made it to the podium.”

Hoffa was one of eight throwers to breach the automatic qualifying distance of 20.20m, and he established a small psychological advantage over his training partner and close rival – fellow American Adam Nelson. The reigning champion, Nelson required two puts to go through, launching his first outside the sector, before landing his second just 8cm short of his friend’s at 20.81m.

Rutger Smith of the Netherlands was the leading qualifier, like Hoffa ensuring his place in the final with only one throw. The silver medallist two years ago, Smith threw 21.04m, just 15cm short of his best of the season.

“21.04 m in the first throw is absolutely fantastic, so close to this year' s best,” said Smith. “I was expecting 20.50m.”

The 2003 World champion Andrei Mikhnevich was first to leave the arena. The Belarussian threw 20.23m with his first effort to ensure a quick exit from the steamy stadium and plenty of time to prepare for this evening’s final.

Denmark’s Olympic silver medallist Joachim Olsen also put down an early marker, denting the sun-bathed turf of the Nagai Stadium at 20.62m.

Other medal contenders who qualified easily included European champion Ralf Bartels of Germany (20.33m), Yury Bialou of Belarus (20.26m), and Poland’s 2005 World Student Games champion Tomasz Majewski (20.25m).

Russia’s Anton Luboslavskiy, ranked ninth in this year’s world lists, missed out on qualification by just 1cm with his best of 19.91m.

Other potential medallists who didn’t go through include Germany’s Peter Sack, another of the year’s top ten athletes, who couldn’t register a valid throw, and United States’ Daniel Taylor, who could only reach 18.45m.

Osaka 2007 News Team/mkb