Although he failed in his bid to become the first Irishman to qualify for an Olympic sprint final since Bob Tisdall in 1932, Paul Hession was still happy with his lot as he stood trackside in the Bird's Nest Stadium.

WORLD 100 metres record holder Asafa Powell will take on Olympic champions Justin Gatlin and Shawn Crawford as well as world sprint champion Kim Collins in a world-class 100m in Rome on July 8.