Bolt is back - Usain clocks world-leading 200m time
Published:Friday | June 10, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer
Renowned local coach Raymond 'KC' Graham believes World and Olympic champion Usain Bolt's impressive clocking in his first 200 metres outing of the season should serve as a stern warning to his rivals.
Bolt stopped the clock at 19.86 seconds to take the half-lap event at the Bislett Games Diamond League meet in Oslo, Norway, yesterday.
"It is frightening to see that after running 9.91 (seconds) twice and then a couple of days later to run 19.86 (seconds) in such conditions; other athletes will begin to understand that Bolt is back," Graham said. "It is early days, but I don't think anybody on the planet can beat Bolt in the 200m. Bolt at his best will not lose the 100m, but we have to give respect to Tyson Gay," he added.
Bolt, who holds the 100m and 200m world records with times of 9.58 and 19.19 seconds, respectively, totally obliterated the rather weak field on a wet track, which is less than ideal for sprinting, on his way to establishing the new world-leading time.
Despite having not competitively run the 200m over the last 13 months, the 24-year-old sprinting sensation finished .57 second ahead of his nearest rival, Norwegian sprinter Jaysuma Saidy Ndure (20.43), with Jamaican Mario Forsythe claiming third in 20.49.
When contacted via social-networking site Twitter, Gay, who is expected to present Bolt's biggest challenge in both the 100m and 200m at the August 27-September 4 World Championships, described his run as "excellent under those conditions".
silencing critics
Bolt's impressive showing will go a far way in silencing critics who have been questioning the superstar's form after two modest clockings by his standards of 9.91 seconds in his opening 100m races of the season.
However, Olympic silver medallist Juliet Cuthbert is not surprised that Bolt is seemingly getting back to his best.
"He was very convincing to me, but I didn't have any doubts from the first or second race that I saw him run," Cuthbert shared. "Nineteen point eight six (seconds) is a very good time for his third race given the fact that he is coming off an injury. I think he is right on target for the World Championships," she added.
Cuthbert also had a word of advice for Bolt, as it relates to the upcoming JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Championships, which is slated for June 23-26.
"We don't know what he will run at the (national) trials, if he will run the 100m or 200m. But if I were him, I would run the 200m to work on speed and endurance," she expressed before adding that she thinks Bolt has what it takes to defeat his biggest rival.
"A healthy Tyson Gay will push Usain Bolt to the max and I think Usain is a much more gifted athlete than Tyson Gay and I think he will be up for the challenge to defend his titles in both the 100m and 200m."
Maurice Wilson, who has been part of Holmwood Technical's success in local track and field for the past 15 years, believes Bolt is on his way to setting all-new marks.
"It is early days yet, but I think Bolt is going to lower his world records," Wilson declared.