Almost one year to the date when he broke the National 200 metres record Usain "Lightning" Bolt struck up an awe inspiring performance at Kingston's National Stadium, at the Jamaica International Invitational Games on Saturday, May 3.
A plethora of stars including the World Championship and Olympic medal winners from the United States, Tyson Gay, Wallace Spearmon and Sanya Richards led the way for the "Stars and Stripes" against Usain Bolt, Danny Mcfarlane, Veronica Campbell-Brown, and Deloreen Ennis-London, wearing the black green and gold representing the, "likkle but we tallawah", Jamaica in the three hour clash.
The fact that all the big name MVP runners; Micheal Frater, Bridgette Foster-Hylton, Sherone Simpson and the world's fastest man, Asafa Powell, stayed away, the I.A.A.F area permit meet was a quality one nonetheless.
The spectators came, saw and left relieved, if only for the fact that the former Willliam Knibb High school runner, Usain Bolt, shattered the field in the men's 100 metres, setting a world leading and mind boggling 9.76 seconds coming 200th of a second within the world record held by his campatriot Asafa Powell's 9.74 seconds set in Reti, Italy last year.
The 21 year old Bolt who had a less than explosive start powered past the field which included the Americans; Wallace Spearman, Darvis Patton and Kim Collins and with 35 metres to go shut down the acceleration just before crossing the line in the second fastest time of all time over the distance.
Bolt who ran with a legal trail wind of 1.8 metres per second, got home ahead of Darvis Patton 10.08, and the Antiguan Daniel Bailey 10.12 seconds, as Spearman and Collins had to settle for positions five and six down the track.
Bolt later did a victory lap and got vociferous congratulations for the spectators who witnessed the feat.
Later, while speaking to YardFlex, Bolt said, 'I came into the event expecting a sub 10 seconds clocking, but I am still surprised at the world mark, as both my coach and I were looking at around 9.80 seconds' .
The former Junior record holder whose two previous best times over the distance stood at 10.03 seconds, explained that he is still not sure that he will be running the 100 metres at the National Trials in Jamaica ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games.
Bolt added that 'my coach and I will meet soon and we will discuss the possibility of incorporating more 100 metres events in the International Itinerary, but right now it's a case of wait and see'. Asafa Powell could not be reached for a comment on Bolt's world class run.
Bolt's next 100 metres run will be at the Hampton Games, in Trinidad, on May 17, before he meets the World Championship triple gold medalist. Tyson Gay, over the distance at the Reebok Games, in New York, on May 31.
Source: Yard Flex
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