To the surprise of everyone, two-time Olympic reigning athletic double champion Usain Bolt won the 100-metre title at the Jamaican Athletics Championships on Friday night. With this event, he has qualified for the World Championships which is supposed to be held in August.
Bolt broke free from the pack after 60 metres. He completed the race by crossing the line in 9.94 seconds. A rising star and his training partner Kemar Bailey-Cole stood second with 9.98 seconds and Nickel Ashmeade stood third with 9.99 seconds. It is worth mentioning that Ashmeade is the training partner of Tyson Gay who ran 9.75 to win at the US Track and Field Championships on Friday.
When interrogated about Gay's impressive run, Bolt replied that trial is always to make the team, because it is at the world championships and it really matters. He had ran 9.63, 9.58, so he has already set the worlds qualifying standard. He added that it was all about getting through it injury free and that is what he had done.
Both Gay and Bolt are scheduled to have a showdown in the 100 at the World Championships in August at Moscow with the defending champion Yohan Blake of Jamaica. Unfortunately, Blake did not run in the Jamaican meet because of a right thigh injury. However as a reigning champion, Blake will be eligible to run at the worlds despite not participating in this week at the Jamaican trials. After considering what elements of his race needed work, Bolt opined that a lot more things needs to be worked on like his start and his drive phase.
In fact, Asafa Powell who has battled all season with injuries, managed to finish a disappointing seventh in 10.22 race. Kerron Stewart won in 10.96 in advance of Sherone Simpson in 11.03 with Schillonie Calvert as third in 11.07 in the women's 100m race.
On the other side, Leford Green won in 49.20 in advance of Annsert Whyte in 49.30 while Isa Phillips stood third in 49.59 in the men's 400m hurdles.
In another event, Francine Simpson won the women's long jump with a leap of 6.35m.
