Bolt unhappy despite 200m title

Eurosport - Mon, 29 Jun 12:32:00 2009

Double Olympic champion Usain Bolt won the Jamaican 200 metres national title, his first run at that distance this year, but conceded he is far from top shape ahead of the World Championships in August.

ATHLETICS 2009 - Usain Bolt sprints to the finish line ahead of compatriots Ainsley Waugh (L) and Steve Mullings during the men's 200 metres at the Jamaican Championships in Kingston - 0

After bursting through the bend, Bolt eased off in the final stages to finish with a time of 20.25, nearly a full second shy of his world record 19.30 set at the final of the Beijing Games last year.

"I'm feeling all right, I'm a little bit tired because I am not really in the best shape of my life, but I'm okay," Bolt said.

"There were a lot of fast guys behind me so I ran the corner pretty hard and then I came off and saw where I was and shut it down - it was okay," said Bolt, who also won the 100m race on Saturday.

In contrast to his dancing jubilation in Beijing, a no-nonsense Bolt crossed the line without celebration in front of cheering home fans to finish ahead of Steve Mullings, second with 20.40, and Marvin Anderson on 20.63.

The run was enough to win the national title and secure passage to the World Championships, but betrayed little of the awesome power the Jamaican revealed at last year's edition in the lead-up to Beijing.

"I'm probably a little bit back, compared to that. I've still got a lot of work to do, day by day. But I am ready to do it," he said.

"I ran the corner very well I think and my coach will decide what to do to improve it."

Bolt faces a showdown in Berlin with world champion Tyson Gay, who last week said he could break the Jamaican's 100m record if he could improve his start.

After winning the national 100m title on Saturday, Bolt hit back by declaring the American had little chance of setting a new mark.

The Jamaican said he hoped to come up against his main rivals, Gay among them, at least once before the World Championships in Berlin.

"I wouldn't mind meeting them in every race in the build-up so I know what I have to do but at least once before would be good," Bolt said.

Bolt and Gay may face off before the Worlds at the London Grand Prix, with the Jamaican signed up and discussions being held with the American's camp, according to organisers of the July 24-25 event.

Like Bolt, two-times women's 200m Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown had little trouble securing first place in the Jamaican trials, holding off rival and 100m gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser to win in 22.40.

Fraser was 0.18 seconds behind with Simone Facey finishing third on 22.96.

Campbell-Brown is one of a number of Jamaica's elite athletes with injury concerns, but the bubbly sprinter said she was pleased with her progress.

"I'm not 100 per cent over the toe injury but it is good enough, I can get the training done," said Campbell-Brown, who will defend her 100m championship in Berlin, but has yet to win a world title at 200m.

"I have to admit the five weeks that I lost have hurt me but I have enough time to get back in the 21 region for Berlin," she said.

"It doesn't matter what you run now, it is Berlin that counts."

Reuters

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  1. honestlly i dont see how Tyson can win Bolt, Bolt is a­ reazonable starter, but his acceleration is­ outstanding, what he did in Beijing when he shut dawn­ 30 meters before the finish and even so clock 9,69. How­ can sameone beat a guy who does such a thing? Even with­ a great start Bolt would catch Tyson at 65 - 70m if not­ before, usually he outpass his mates before the 60m, in­ the last 35-40m Bolt hes irresestible. For Tyson to Win­ he needs a outstanding start and a very bad start from­ Bolt, but Bolt hes a totally different 100m racer in­ fact he's not a 100m racer, he's a 200m and­ 400m racer that happens to be extremelly fast running­ the 100m

    From black_portugal, on Tue 30 Jun 6:15AM
  2. Are you kidding, Bolt could give Gay a 10 metre head­ start, run backwards and still win!

    From Monster, on Mon 29 Jun 11:53PM
  3. well if tyson has a great start and he leaves bolt in­ the blocks, i don't see bolt catching him

    From Terrence b, on Mon 29 Jun 10:12PM
  4. i wonder tyson gay could really improve a lot by­ starting better. he obviously not like bolt who very­ slow on the start. if talk about improvement, it is­ bolt who can improve more.

    From gun rosses, on Mon 29 Jun 4:05PM
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