| Blake stuns Bolt in 100 |
KINGSTON (Jamaica) Yohan Blake delivered a shock that will be felt all the way to London by exploding past world record holder Usain Bolt to claim a stunning 100 metres victory at the Jamaican Olympic trials on Friday.
The showdown between triple Olympic champion Bolt and world champion Blake lived up to its billing as the highlight of the four-day meeting as ‘The Beast’ roared home in a dazzling 9.75 seconds, a personal best and fastest in the world this year.
The time also made Blake the fourth fastest man of all time behind Bolt (9.58), American Tyson Gay (9.69) and Asafa Powell (9.72).
“No pressure at all... everything is good. I’m just fortunate,” Blake said after eclipsing his personal best of 9.82. “I’m the national champion of Jamaica now, I go into the Olympics like this.”
Bolt, who was unable to reel in his training partner, settled for second in 9.86 followed by former world record holder Powell in 9.88.
All three men qualified for the Jamaican Olympic team and will line up against a formidable American contingent at the London Games starting on July 27.
There will be no rest for Bolt and Blake, however, who will return to the track on Saturday looking for a spot in the 200m.
“We are right where we want to be going into London,” Glen Mills, who coaches both Blake and Bolt, said.
“We just want to keep them healthy. The strategy, we didn’t send him (Blake) to Europe and he is in far better shape than Bolt at this time.
“We have four weeks (until the Olympics) and we will take it in stride. We know what to do, so we’ll get there.
“Bolt is a tough cookie and I think he will survive.”
The men were not the only ones delivering excitement as women’s 100m Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce provided some magic of her own by blazing to victory in 10.70 seconds, equaling the seventh fastest time in the event.
Only Americans Florence Griffith-Joyner, Carmelita Jeter and Marion Jones have run faster. Veronica Campbell-Brown, a double Olympic gold medalist in the 200m, was a distant second in 10.82 with Kerron Stewart third on 10.94.
“I set a national record tonight and there is nothing else I could ask for,” Fraser-Pryce said.
“I’m looking forward to the Olympics and defending my championship. It has been in the works. My coach said I could break the record and I did it.
“I worked really hard for this. I am not afraid of anybody.” The Bolt-Blake showdown left a capacity crowd that included Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller on the edge of their seats with the high-speed drama building steadily throughout a calm, muggy evening.
The semifinals got the vuvuzelas blowing and drums pounding before Fraser-Pryce set the stage for the evening finale with her electrifying run.
Reuters
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