Next is the 200
Aug 18, 2009
BERLIN- Usain Bolt, unsurprisingly, looked a little tired on Tuesday as he began his bid to add the 200 metres world title to the 100 he secured so spectacularly on Sunday, doing the bare minimum to ease into the second round.
BERLIN- Usain Bolt, unsurprisingly, looked a little tired on Tuesday as he began his bid to add the 200 metres world title to the 100 he secured so spectacularly on Sunday, doing the bare minimum to ease into the second round.
Bolt, the world record-holder at both distances having improved his 100 mark to 9.58 two days ago, made a sleeping gesture when his name was announced and duly looked stiff on the opening bend before lengthening his stride to come home safely in 20.70 seconds.
With 2007 champion Tyson Gay out because of a groin injury, Bolt looks an unbackable favourite for Thursday’s final when the only question should be whether he can beat his own world mark of 19.30, set in Beijing last year.
To do so he will need better conditions than Tuesday’s cool, blustery weather but after Sunday’s astonishing display, nothing can be ruled out. The semi-finals are on Wednesday.
Beijing 200m silver medallist Shawn Crawford clocked the best overall time of 20.60 and should vie with with fellow American Wallace Spearmon for silver.
In the 400 metres, Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt and world champion Jeremy Wariner stayed on course for their expected showdown in Thursday’s final by qualifying comfortably through the opening heats.
In Monday night action, Jamaica’s sprinting dominance continued in sizzling style when Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser clocked 10.73 seconds to win the women’s world 100 metres, 24 hours after Usain Bolt’s 9.58 in the men’s event.
At the other end of the track spectrum, Kenenisa Bekele was again awesome as he won the 10,000 metres gold for the fourth time in a row but Yelena Isinbayeva’s bid for a hat-trick of pole vault titles imploded when she failed to clear a height, allowing Poland’s Anna Rogowska to take a shock gold.
Primoz Kozmus added the hammer world title to his Olympic crown.
Also Monday, Uganda’s Martin Toroitich was lapped as he finished 22nd in the 10000m final won by Bekele.
Toroitich, who has represented Uganda in a number of international events, had never qualified for a track event till this year’s track and field championship in Berlin.
The absence of his younger brother Boniface Kiprop, who pulled out due to injury, did not help as Toroitich dropped out of the lead pack just after four of the 25 lap race.
Moses Kipsiro, who runs the 5000m tomorrow, remains Uganda’s best hope for a medal.
(Additional reporting by Norman Katende)
Bolt, the world record-holder at both distances having improved his 100 mark to 9.58 two days ago, made a sleeping gesture when his name was announced and duly looked stiff on the opening bend before lengthening his stride to come home safely in 20.70 seconds.
With 2007 champion Tyson Gay out because of a groin injury, Bolt looks an unbackable favourite for Thursday’s final when the only question should be whether he can beat his own world mark of 19.30, set in Beijing last year.
To do so he will need better conditions than Tuesday’s cool, blustery weather but after Sunday’s astonishing display, nothing can be ruled out. The semi-finals are on Wednesday.
Beijing 200m silver medallist Shawn Crawford clocked the best overall time of 20.60 and should vie with with fellow American Wallace Spearmon for silver.
In the 400 metres, Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt and world champion Jeremy Wariner stayed on course for their expected showdown in Thursday’s final by qualifying comfortably through the opening heats.
In Monday night action, Jamaica’s sprinting dominance continued in sizzling style when Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser clocked 10.73 seconds to win the women’s world 100 metres, 24 hours after Usain Bolt’s 9.58 in the men’s event.
At the other end of the track spectrum, Kenenisa Bekele was again awesome as he won the 10,000 metres gold for the fourth time in a row but Yelena Isinbayeva’s bid for a hat-trick of pole vault titles imploded when she failed to clear a height, allowing Poland’s Anna Rogowska to take a shock gold.
Primoz Kozmus added the hammer world title to his Olympic crown.
Also Monday, Uganda’s Martin Toroitich was lapped as he finished 22nd in the 10000m final won by Bekele.
Toroitich, who has represented Uganda in a number of international events, had never qualified for a track event till this year’s track and field championship in Berlin.
The absence of his younger brother Boniface Kiprop, who pulled out due to injury, did not help as Toroitich dropped out of the lead pack just after four of the 25 lap race.
Moses Kipsiro, who runs the 5000m tomorrow, remains Uganda’s best hope for a medal.
(Additional reporting by Norman Katende)