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EUGENE, Ore. - According to Rubin Williams, everything is going according to plan.

The most decorated All-American in the history of Tennessee track might have been underestimated by some coming into the U.S. Olympic track and field trials, but thus far Williams says he has done everything he expected to.

"I feel good," said Williams, who advanced to today's finals of the men's 200 at Hayward Field. "This was pretty much part of the plan."

Williams - who ran a 20.56 and finished third in his semifinal heat - admitted he did not run as fast as he'd hoped in the early rounds, but said it didn't matter.

"As long as you get to the final everyone has a chance to get on the team," he said.

Though Saturday featured only preliminary races of the 200, the day provided more drama than any other so far.

Tyson Gay, the 2007 World Outdoor champion in the 100 and 200 who had already qualified for Beijing by running the fastest time ever by a human being in the 100 last week and was a 200 favorite, cramped up during his heat of the 200, falling to the ground about 25 meters into the race. He was carted off the track.

"I saw it," said Williams, who ran in Gay's quarterfinal. "I feel bad for him, but it's part of the sport, it happens."

Williams placed second in his quarterfinal, running a 20.58. Evander Wells of UT finished fourth in his quarterfinal heat (20.73) and advanced to the semifinals, but failed to make the finals. Wells recorded a 20.80 in the semis, running in the same heat as Williams.

Williams says that Gay's absence in the final does not make anything easier for him.

"A final's gonna be a final, no matter who's in it," he said.

Merrit In Position: Former UT standout Aries Merritt won his heat of the 110 hurdle preliminaries, then finished second in his quarterfinal race to advance to today's semifinals. Merritt ran a 13.49 and then a 13.38 to move on. The finals will be run later this evening.

"I feel great, I'm moving really easy through the rounds," Merritt, a seven-time All-American at UT and the 2006 NCAA champion, said. "Today was all about advancing; tomorrow is about winning and coming in top two each time."

Layne's Run Ends: Lady Vols sophomore Lynne Layne finished sixth in her heat of the 200 quarterfinal. Layne's time of 23.75 was the 22nd best overall, which was not fast enough to move her to the semis.

Coward's Day: West High School graduate Jacquelyn Coward finished last in her heat of the 100 hurdles in 13.69. She will attend Central Florida in the fall.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.