London, England — After what he described as mistakes made last year at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, 400m hurdler Leford Green said this morning’s first round run at the 28th Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium in Stratford, London, was to get the cobwebs out.

Green, who was 11th overall after the semi-finals last year, was second in his heat today in 49.30 seconds and earned an automatic qualifying spot into tomorrow semi-finals.

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His teammates Roxroy Cato and Josef Robertson, also first time Olympians were however not as fortunate failing to advance, running 50.22 seconds and 49.98 seconds respectively in their heats.

The first run was to get the cobwebs out and erase memories of Deagu where I was very inexperienced, Green said adding his plan was Making sure I am an automatic qualifier and feeling out the track and getting ready.

He reported he was over his injuries that limited his early preparations, “I am running a lot better now, no pain or tightness.”

Despite placing fifth in his heat, Cato held out hope that he would move on, “I can’t say I am disappointed, I a keeping my fingers crossed as I am sure I will be able to work on what’s wrong.”

Cato said he started too fast and instead of running his usual 14 steps between each hurdles was running 13 steps and was forced to back off.

Robertson who was a semi-finalist in Daegu last year, said he “made a lot of mistakes, shuffled a lot and it cost me, but said it was a good race nonetheless until he hit the tenth hurdle.