Cummins advanced to the women's 800m final, while Macrozonaris breezed through his men's 100m heat and a controversial quarter-final to qualify for the semis.
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The performances ensure at least a top-eight result for Cummins and a top-17 finish for Macrozonaris.
American sprinter Jon Drummond lies on the track in protest at the world championships on Sunday. (AP Photo/Richard Martin)
The 29-year-old Cummins of Victoria, B.C., clocked the fifth-fastest time of the all semifinalists in one minute 59.58 seconds.
The top-two athletes from each of the three heats, along with the two other fastest times, advanced to the final. Cummins placed third in the quickest heat of the day, which was won by reigning Olympic and world champion Maria Mutola of Mozambique (1:58.45).
"I was prepared for a fast race and ready for some pain, "said Cummins, who posted Canada's best result at the 2001 worlds in Edmonton placing fifth.
"It's a lot tougher here this year than two years ago. This is a worlds before an Olympic year and there's simply a lot more depth. Many more are running under two minutes," added Cummins.
The women's 800m final is slated for Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the 23-year-old Macrozonaris secured his spot in Monday's 100m semifinal with two strong efforts on Sunday.
Macrozonaris of Laval, Que., placed second in his morning heat with a time of 10.23 seconds. He crossed the line behind Great Britain's Darren Campbell (10.18).
In the afternoon session, Macrozonaris was third in a controversial heat, clocking in at 10.16.
Former American champion Jon Drummond and Jamaica's Asafa Powell were disqualified for false starts in Macrozonaris' heat.
An angry Drummond refused to accept the ruling, staging an impromptu sit-in. After appealing to officials, the 34-year-old American laid down in the middle of the track to multiple hoots and whistles from the Parisian crowd.
Jamaican Dwight Thomas was first called for a false start, and under the new IAAF rules, only one false start is allowed per race. After that, any athlete called for jumping the gun is disqualified.
Both Drummond and Powell were caught moving too quickly in the re-start.
Race officials eventually postponed the heat before completing it later in the afternoon. Drummond remained visibly distraught as he moved onto the grass beside the track.
This is the first world championships to allow just one false start by any athlete in the field. Previously, each sprinter was allowed two false starts before getting disqualified.
Even though the ruling helped ease his path to the semis, Macrozonaris isn't a big fan of the new false-start system.
"The new rules don't make sense," Macrozonaris said. "The equipment on the blocks is quite sensitive and they tell you that you did a false start. You really have to be very still, you should try it once.
"Powell definitely false started but Jon Drummond is an experienced sprinter and I doubt he would make such a mistake. Hopefully they'll go back to the old rules and re-examine this issue. Or else this is going to happen many more times. I wouldn't be surprised if it happens again tomorrow."
Other notables to advance to Monday's semifinals included world-record holder Tim Montgomery of the U.S. (10.04), fellow American and three-time world champion Maurice Greene (10.04), Trinidad's Ato Boldon (10.09), Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis (10.02) and Britain's Dwain Chambers (10.03)
No athletes were able to break the 10-second barrier. Trinidad's Darrel Brown clocked the fastest time of the day with a 10.01.
Patrick Johnson of Australia, who held the world's fastest time this season of 9.93, did not qualify for the semis.
Anson Henry of Pickering, Ont., failed to make it past the first round. He finished fourth in his heat with a time of 10.33.
Macrozonaris will line up in lane one of the first semifinal heat on Tuesday. Collins and Montgomery are in the same group.
Heat two features Boldon, Chambers, Brown and Greene.
Shane Niemi of Kamloops, B.C., wasn't as fortunate as Cummins and Macrozonaris on Sunday.
Niemi did not advance past the semifinal stage of the men's 400m. He finished seventh in his heat (45.60), won by France's Marc Raquil (44.88). American Tyree Washington posted the top time of the day in 44.60.
with files from Canadian Sport News
