Usain
Bolt eased to victory on his first race on European soil this year in
the 200 metres at the Golden Spike event in Ostrava in the Czech
Republic.
The Jamaican lived up to his showbiz reputation as
he made light of the greasy conditions and waved to the delighted crowd
on his way to the blocks. But after a few moments of levity he was
focus personified. The six-times Olympic gold medal winner made a
customary slow start, with the American Isiah Young getting the early
advantage, but the 28-year-old took complete control round the corner
and powered home in 20.13sec.
Despite winning
by a comfortable 0.22sec over Young, Bolt – who kept running at full
tilt across the line – was visibly unimpressed and underlined his
determination to be at the top of his game for the world championships
in Beijing in August. “It was difficult as it was a little bit colder
than I thought it would be,” he said. “I just need to try to get myself
into running shape. It’s all about the work and the technique.”
It
was the second time Young had finished second behind a Jamaican
sprinter after being edged out by Asafa Powell in the 100m earlier on.
Like Bolt, Powell did not have the best start but he began to pull away
after about 60m to take the victory in 10.04s. Although Powell was
unable to add to the 84 times he has broken the 10-second barrier, he
will be pleased to have been so close in the wet weather.
Young
crossed the line in 10.13 while Britain’s Richard Kilty continued his
bid to replicate indoor success outdoors by finishing third in 10.31.
His
fellow Briton James Ellington finished sixth in 10.45, before he
returned for the 200m race and was impressive, finishing fourth in
running 20.81.
Credit: Guardian Sport
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