LONDON, July 27: Jamaica’s world 100 metres record holder Usain Bolt sounded another warning to his Olympic rivals with an impressive winning time of 19.76 seconds in the 200 metres at the London Grand Prix on Saturday.
Bolt, who set the year’s best time of 19.67 two weeks ago, broke the UK All Comers record of 19.84 held by American world champion Tyson Gay, who would be one of Bolt’s main rivals if the Jamaican decides to run in the 100 at the Beijing Games.
American Wallace Spearmon was second in 20.27 seconds with Paul Hession of Ireland third in 20.37.
“It was pretty good...I came out here with a plan and I did execute it well,” the 21-year-old Bolt, world championship silver medallist last year, said.
Bolt, who could compete for a 100-200 sprint double at next month’s Games, said: “I’m still not sure about doubling in Beijing. My coach will make the decision.
“I’d definitely like to double, I think I could do well in both. But my coach hasn’t made a bad decision in five years so if he says I can only do one, I’ll do one.”
In a close women’s 100 metres final, Olympic 200 metres champion Veronica Campbell won in 10.87 seconds from fellow Jamaican Shelly Ann Fraser, who clocked 10.95.
Americans Marshevet Hooker and the 31-year-old Torri Edwards, world champion in 2003 and holder of this year’s world leading 10.78, were third and fourth respectively.
Campbell, whose time was just 0.02 seconds slower than her personal best and was her fastest of the year, said: “I’m in a great position to defend my 200 metres title in Beijing.”.
In a high standard men’s pole vault competition, winner Yevgeniy Lukyanenko of Russia, the world indoor champion, and Australia’s Commonwealth champion Steve Hooker attempted to clear 6.02 metres but fell short.
Both cleared 5.97 metres while American Brad Walker, who holds the year’s best of 6.04, had to settle for equal third with Germany’s Alexander Starub after clearing 5.72.
Walker was not too disappointed, saying: “My preparation is good, just a few tweaks here and there and I’ll be ready to go [in Beijing]. It’s going to tale a six-metre jump to win the Olympics.”
Martyn Rooney raised British hopes ahead of the Olympic men’s 400 metres with a personal best of 44.83, beating Canada’s world indoor champion Tyler Christopher (45.29) into second place.
Results:
Men’s:
200 metres: 1. Usain Bolt (Jamaica) 19.76 seconds; 2. Wallace Spearmon (US) 20.27; 3. Paul Hession (Ireland) 20.37.
400 metres: 1. Martyn Rooney (Britain) 44.83 seconds; 2. Tyler Christopher (Canada) 45.29; 3. David Gillick (Ireland) 45.35.
800 metres: 1. Abraham Chepkirwok (Uganda) one minute 45.64 seconds; 2. Michael Rimmer (Britain) 1:45.76; 3. Marcin Lewandowski (Poland) 1:46.49.
3,000 metres: 1. Boniface Kiprop (Uganda) seven minutes 36.95 seconds; 2. Mike Kipruto Kigen (Kenya) 7:37.66; 3. Alistair Cragg (Ireland) 7:38.60.
400-metre hurdles: 1. Kerron Clement (US) 48.36 seconds; 2. Ricardo Yates (Britain) 49.06; 3. Markino Buckley (Jamaica) 49.18.
4x100 metres relay: 1. US Red 37.80 seconds; 2. Trinidad & Tobago 38.00; 3. Britain Blue 38.34.
Long jump: 1. Greg Rutherford (Britain) 8.16 metres; 2. Ngonidzashe E Makusha (Zimbabwe) 8.02; 3. Fabrice Lapierre (Australia) 7.96.
Pole vault: 1. Yevgeniy Lukyanenko (Russia) 5.97 metres; 2. Steven Hooker (Australia) 5.97; 3 equal. Alexander Straub (Germany) 5.72, 3 equal. Brad Walker (US) 5.72.
Women’s:
100 metres: 1. Veronica Campbell-Brown (Jamaica) 10.87 seconds; 2. Shelly-Ann Fraser (Jamaica) 10.95; 3. Marshevet Hooker (US) 11.07.
800 metres: 1. Marilyn Okoro (Britain) one minute 58.45 seconds; 2. Elisa Cusma Piccione (Italy) 1:59.33; 3. Morgan Uceny (US) 2:00.01.
3,000 metres: 1. Jennifer Rhines (US) eight minutes 53.26 seconds; 2. Pauline Korikwiang (Kenya) 8:56.98; 3. Laura Kenney (Britain) 8:57.39.
100-metre hurdles: 1. Lolo Jones (US) 12.58 seconds; 2. Sally McLellan (Australia) 12.61; 3. Joanna Hayes (US) 12.63.
400-metre hurdles: 1. Melanie Walker (Jamaica) 54.22 seconds; 2. Anna Jesien (Poland) 54.98; 3. Sheena Tosta (US) 55.37.
High jump: 1. Anna Chicherova (Russia) 2.01 metres; 2. Nicole Forrester (Canada) 1.92; 3. Amy Acuff (US) 1.92.
Javelin throw: 1. Christina Obergfoell (Germany) 65.93 metres; 2. Goldie Sayers (Britain) 63.82; 3. Steffi Nerius (Germany) 61.81.—Reuters
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