By Ben Efe, in New Delhi

The athletics event of the 2010 Commonwealth Games began yesterday, with Nigeria’s Ogho-Oghene Egwero primed for the gold medal. He ran one of the fastest times in the second round heats.

Egwero bubbling with confidence breezed to a time of 10.13 seconds in his heat. He was not under pressure as Jamaica’s Leone Clarke chased him down the line.

The best time of the evening was returned by Jamaica’s Oshane Bailey a 10.12 seconds run and perhaps this is the shape of things to come in the men’s 100m race as the final show-down beckons.

The semi-finals and the final will be decided today.Nigeria’s other entrant, Peter Emelieze ran his season best of 10.21 seconds in his heat and he could be assured of a place in the final, if he keeps his head down.

In the women 100m, Damola Osayomi and Agnes Osazuwa also booked their places in the semi-final.  So did Shade Abughan and Margaret Etim in the women 400m race, the semi-finals will come up today.

“I’m focused to getting a good result at the Commonwealth Games. At the Africa Championships I made some mistakes at the start. New Delhi is an opportunity to make up, “said Egwero before going into the race.