Anguillan young gun Zharnel Hughes, who trains with Bolt in Jamaica but runs for Britain, edged the fifth heat in 20.13 courtesy of his dip for the line, while Panama’s Alonso Edwards ran 20.11 to win the second.
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A exhausted Usain Bolt and an emotionally worn out Justin Gatlin progressed towards their second blockbuster sprint showdown of the world championships by easing through the 200 meters heats on Tuesday.
Gatlin, game-face on after failing in his bid to dethrone Bolt as the king of men’s sprinting, won his heat in 20.19. Gatlin also outran Bolt in the 100 heats.
Of Gatlin’s tightening near the death, Lawrence reasoned it was understandable, given the pressure that came from Bolt’s presence.
“The 200m means a lot more to me but I’m a little anxious about my fitness because I’ve not done many this year”, Bolt told BBC Sport. “Hopefully I can get my technique right and give it my best in the final”, added Bolt, who returns to the Bird’s Nest for Wednesday’s semis with the final scheduled for Thursday.
The race was won by Gatlin in 20.19 with Japan’s Abdul Hakim Sani Brown taking second in 20.35.
“It’s just a dream to be here”, said Sani Brown, who was ordered by his Japanese mother to choose track over football when he was in elementary school. “(I’m) just watching as always – watching everybody’s race”.
Rutherford was overjoyed, saying: “What an incredible night … it’s unbelievable”. “It’s just the most incredible thing”.
“I might be looking at people, but people are looking at me at the same time. I can’t believe I’ve done this”.
Cuba’s Denia Caballero won the women’s discus title, throwing 69.28 metres to beat defending world and Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic of Croatia.
Nicholas Bett handed Kenya a first-ever medal in the men’s 400m hurdles when he held his nerve for gold.
Ethiopian favourite Genzebe Dibaba stormed to the women’s world 1500m title with a sumptuous display of controlled running. Kenyan Faith Kipyegon took silver in 4:09.96 and Ethiopian-born Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan was third in 4:09.34. ‘There’s a lot of big rivals out there, but I am a big rival myself.
“I was trying to make sure I ran at least one-third of the race and then I shut it down”.
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Her compatriot and friend Anyika Onuora will not join her but ran her second personal best of the championships, this time 50.87 secs, as she continues to impress having moved up from the shorter sprints.
