American Justin Gatlin and Ukrainian Zhanna Block lit up the opening day of the 2003 World indoor championships by taking gold in the men's and women's 60 metres respectively on Friday.
World record holder Maurice Greene was missing due to injury and defending champion Tim Harden was not competing but Gatlin's performance continued America's dominance of the distance as the 21-year-old took the title in his first event in Europe.
"I feel like a rookie, the start was the key to the race," said Gatlin, whose time of 6.46 seconds was just outside his world-leading mark set at the start of the month. "It came as no surprise to me and I cannot ask for any more than gold."
Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis took silver in a national record and Briton Jason Gardener just pipped compatriot Mark Lewis-Francis to repeat the bronze he won in 1999.
Terrence Trammell, who was among the favourites to take the gold, failed to reach the semi-finals after pulling up towards the end of his heat with a hamstring problem and is now a doubt for the defence of his 60 metres hurdles title on Saturday.
"The back of my hamstring feels sore, I really need to get some ice on it," said the American after coming fifth in his heat. "I am not worried about what will happen in the hurdles, right now I just want to get this (hamstring) right."
BLOCK DOUBLE
Block ran a world leading time of 7.04 seconds to add the indoor title to the world 100 metres outdoor crown she won in Edmonton in 2001 when she spectacularly beat American Olympic champion Marion Jones.
American Angela Williams matched her own performance in Lisbon by taking silver while compatriot Torri Edwards won the bronze in her first world indoor championships.
"I can't describe what I'm feeling," said Block. "I've never won the world indoor championships.
"The time doesn't surprise me after my performances (in the heats) today. I'm really looking forward to improving my 100 metres personal best this year.
Sweden's Carolina Kluft set a number of personal bests as she won gold in the women's pentathlon in a championship record of 4,933 points ahead of defending champion Natalya Sazanovich of Belarussia (4715) and Marie Collonville of France (4644).
"I had a chance for the (world indoor) record and I knew that I had to try and get it, but I am still young. I can try another time."
The world record of 4,991 points was set by Russia's Irina Belova in February 1992.
Spain's Manuel Martinez won the men's shot put with a season's best throw of 21.24 metres ahead of defending champion American John Godina (21.23), who also threw a season's best, and Ukrainian Yuriy Bilonog (21.13).
Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie eased his way into the 3,000 metres final as he attempts to win back the crown taken from him by Hicham El Guerrouj at the 2001 championships.
The Moroccan has skipped Birmingham to concentrate on the world outdoor championships in Paris later this year.
But Portugal's Rui Silva lost his world title in the heats of the men's 1500 metres as he came home third and failed to qualify for Saturday's final.
"I'm very disappointed not to be able to defend my title," said Silva. "I came here really wanting to be in the final. I was weak in the head coming around the final bend and they passed me."
HANSEN SCARED
Britain's triple jump world record holder Ashia Hansen topped the list of qualifiers for Saturday's women's final with 14.61 metres but was troubled by a long-standing heel injury.
"I'm running off to the doctor to get my physio," said Hansen, whose world record of 15.16 was set in 1998.
"I was a little scared and definitely in pain, but I'm happy not to have limped off. I don't know if I'll be world champion this weekend. I'm just content with my performance so far."
In the men's long jump Spain's Yago Lamela, who has a world leading mark of 8.43 metres this year, was the only competitor to top eight metres in qualifying for Saturday's final.
His task has been made easier by the absence of injured Cuban Ivan Pedroso, who has held the title since 1993 and would have been going for a record sixth world indoor crown.
In the women's 800 metres heats defending champion Maria Mutola of Mozambique reached the semi-finals with world record holder Jolanda Ceplak of Slovenia and Austria's Stephanie Graf, who ran the fastest time in qualifying.
"Obviously, I've been very successful indoors in the past and I think confidence is the key," said Mutola, who is going for her fifth world indoor 800 crown.
Defending champion Shawn Crawford of the United States was disqualified for running outside his lane after he had set the fastest time in the men's 200 metres semi-finals.
His compatriot Michelle Collins ran a world leading time of 22.31 seconds in reaching the womens' 200 final.
Briton Daniel Caines led the qualifiers for the men's 400 metres semi-finals while Russia's Natalya Nazarova, who has a world leading time, had that distinction in the women's 400.
