Former Dagenham & Redbridge footballer Adam Gemili continues to impress on the athletics track after he advanced to the Olympic 100m semi finals this afternoon.

Gemili burst onto the athletics scene earlier this year after opting to focus on the sport full time rather than football and the decision continues to pay dividends.

The Dartford sprint sensation stopped the clock today in 10.11, finishing second to Jamaica’s Asafa Powell in heat five.

It was a performance which assured him automatic progression through to tomorrow’s semi finals alongside British team-mates James Dasaolu and Dwain Chambers.

And Gemili, who looked calm before the race started, described the whole experience as “absolutely amazing”.

He explained: “Obviously I was nervous but I just wanted to try and focus, do a good race and execute it properly.

“When you walk out and you run in front of a crowd like that, it feels absolutely amazing. It feels good.”

And looking ahead, the youngster is not ruling out advancing once more to the final.

“I just came here to run quickly,” he continued.

“I wasn’t looking to get through a round, I was just trying to get through all of the rounds. I do think the final is a possibility if I execute my race properly and do well. But I don’t know.”

Dasaolu ran alongside world record holder and defending Olympic champion Usain Bolt in heat four and clocked a season’s best of 10.13 to progress in third place.

Chambers was the star of the British trio however, easing to victory in the final heat in a season’s best of 10.02.