Angullian Shara Proctor, suffering from run up problems, had to settle for ninth in the finals of the Women's Long Jump at the London 2012 Olympics. Photo credit: London 2012

Proctor, who has relatives in the BVI and is the British record-holder, managed a 6.55m effort - well short of her qualifying jump of 6.83m. She had run up issues and said afterwards “My first couple of jumps were not good at all and I lost focus and got frustrated."

American Brittany Reese won Gold with a leap of 7.12m; Russia's Elena Sokolova won silver, while bronze went to Janay Deloach of the United States.

In qualifying for the final, Proctor, 23, was only 12cm short of her own British record, but she could not repeat that form in the final. The Anguilla-born athlete said: "When I get flustered, I don't perform to the best of my ability. I had a chance (for a medal), I just had to execute and I didn't do that. This is my first Olympics and I made it to the finals. That's a big accomplishment for me. I'm not saying I'm satisfied, but I came out here and tried my best. This is a learning experience for me”

In other results on Wednesday, Allyson Felix, the three-time world champion beat a strong field to register her first Olympic gold over the 200m distance after two silvers in 2004 and 2008.

The American came from behind in the final straight to pip Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to first place. "That was very impressive from Allyson Felix. It was a great race with some great athletic talent. Felix, with her long stride, is a great sprinter with very nice technique. She could not be matched."

Fraser-Pryce ran a personal best 22.09 to take silver, with Carmelita Jeter of the United States third in 22.14 secs. "It has been a long time coming," said Felix. "I've waited so long for this moment and I am just overjoyed. There are so many people I love here tonight and I am just overjoyed to share it with them."

Veronica Campbell-Brown, who won the title in 2004 and 2008, finished outside the medal placing in fourth.

The Jamaican duo of Fraser-Pryce and Campbell-Brown got off to a flying start, leaving the rest of the athletes trailing. But Felix, in lane six, finished the stronger, while Fraser-Pryce held off Jeter to take second.

Usain Bolt hardly had to break sweat as he coasted into the men's 200 metres final where he will bid for an unprecedented Olympic sprint double-double.

Bolt, 25, will be joined in today’s gold medal showdown by compatriots Warren Weir and his most likely title rival Yohan Blake, as well as America's one representative Wallace Spearman.

"I'm ready. This is my favourite event so I'm looking forward to it," Bolt said after blitzing the first 100 metres to allow a gentle jog on the home straight for a heat-winning time of 20.18 seconds.

Asked if he could break the 19.19 seconds world record he set in Berlin in 2009 Bolt said: "It's a possibility. I can't say but the track is fast so it's going to be a good race."

Although Spearman, who finished third in Beijing in 2008 but was then disqualified for stepping out of his lane, is likely to battle it out with former European champion Christophe Lemaitre for bronze, Bolt did not rule out a Jamaican 1-2-3.

"It's going to be hard. Wallace Spearman is there and he's been there before," said Bolt, who even managed a smile to camera once he was in the blocks at the start of his race.

Blake, this year's fastest man, also looked impressive, running a strong bend before easing down for the night's best time of 20.01, with Spearman and Lemaitre in hot pursuit.

European champion and this year's Olympic 100 metres finalist Churandy Martina of the Netherlands also qualified.

It was third time lucky for American Allyson Felix who won Olympic 200 metres gold after taking silver at the previous two Games.

She ran a good bend but with Jamaican's Veronica Campbell-Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce still in medal contention, Felix lengthened her stride down the home straight for victory in 21.88 seconds.