The big guns all qualified for Sunday's final of the Olympic men's 100m, but the British trio all exited at the semi-final stage.
Seven of the eight qualifiers ran under 10 seconds as defending champion Usain Bolt looked close to his brilliant best once more.
Bolt was only the third fastest qualifier overall in 9.87 seconds, but the Jamaican was easing down from a long way out despite having being slowest out of the blocks.
America's Justin Gatlin was the quickest in 9.82secs, with world champion Yohan Blake - a training partner of Bolt nicknamed 'The Beast' - clocking 9.85s.
Former world champion Tyson Gay was fourth fastest in 9.90, but British trio Adam Gemili, Dwain Chambers and James Dasaolu all missed out on the final.
Gemili, 18, recovered from a poor start to snatch third on the line behind Blake and Gay in 10.06, while Chambers (10.05) was fourth in his semi and 10th fastest overall and Dasaolu (10.18) seventh in the first semi.
Gemili only started concentrating on athletics in January after calling time on his football career, but won the world junior title in Barcelona last month and has been tipped for greatness by Gay.
"For me it feels really, really good that I was able to come in here and do well, show what I can do," he said. "I feel there was more to come and I didn't get to show it but that wasn't meant to be, but to come third against two of the best sprinters in the world at the moment isn't too bad.
"The crowd really gee you up and give you a boost. I was feeling good and feeling relaxed, I just wanted to go out there and run.
"It has definitely given me a taste for more. I am going to go back to the drawing board and work hard with my coach and hopefully come out next year and run even quicker.
"I think I just need to keep doing what I'm doing. I think I've progressed quite a lot this year so next year I think I need to just keep working on little things and hopefully the times will drop down.
"The football career will now take a back seat. I'll stick with athletics for now."
Chambers, whose drugs ban in 2003 ruled him out of the Olympics until the BOA's bylaw was overturned earlier this year, said: "Part of me is disappointed because I wanted to make the final and based on the time I ran yesterday that would have got me through.
"But that's just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. It's a bit unfortunate that it didn't happen today. I am just happy to be here, I've never smiled so much in my life.
"We'll see what opportunities present themselves (after London) and then I will just relax, spend some time with my family and see how things feel.
"This has been my focus and I am grateful to have fought this long to get to this position.
"If I can continue enjoying it and still feed my family then I will carry on as long as I can."
British duo Ross Murray and Andy Baddeley failed to reach the final of the 1,500m after finishing 10th and eighth respectively in their semi-finals.
"I had done everything right until 300 to go, I had stayed out of trouble and then the legs just weren't there," said a disappointed Murray, who was on the verge of quitting athletics and becoming a holiday rep last year.
"These guys have had years of training beind them. I have had six or seven months. I may be all right in one-off races but in rounds I struggle a little more. I will use that as motivation to go to and train harder for Moscow in 2013.
"Come a few days I will look back and I can't complain about what I have achieved. Right now, I feel I could have been better than that. It is one of those things. If I can get to the Olympic semi-final on seven months of training, what can I do after two years?"
