It contributed to plenty of fast times across the 10th Diamond League meeting of the season – as well as two significant record-breaking moments for the British team. Harrison set a new world record Friday by running the 100-meter hurdles in 12.20 seconds.
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But she might have gotten some measure of satisfaction for missing Rio by setting the record and beating the trio of US hurdlers – Brianna Rollins, Kristi Castlin and Nia Ali – who will be in Rio.
The six-time Olympic champion clocked 19.89 seconds – 0.15 ahead of Panama’s Alonso Edward in second.
But it was Bolt – and Muir – who stole the show on the night.
He led coming off the bend, but appeared to have to work harder than usual down the home straight.
“My coach always says “Usain, you can always go onto the 2020 Olympics if you want to”, he said when asked by ESPN what would convince him to train on until Japan.
Usain Bolt today said American sprinter Justin Gatlin was being disrespectful when Gatlin implied that he received preferential treatment in the Jamaican Olympic trials.
“I tried to hold my form”. “It was just mentally, the pressure got to me”.
The outstanding Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas won easily in a world-leading 49.55 seconds.
Jimmy Vicaut of France won the final in 10.02, followed by Isiah Young of the United States (10.07) and Churandy Martina of the Netherlands (10.10).
The action continues on Saturday, with the day’s highlight being the 5,000m, featuring home favourite Mo Farah.
Usain Bolt proved his fitness for the Rio Olympics in emphatic fashion by clocking 19.89 seconds to win over 200 metres at the Muller Anniversary Games on Friday night.
The 23-year-old, who is expected to battle it out with her fellow double-barrelled multi-eventer for a medal in Rio, has struggled badly with her long jump since failing to record a distance at last year’s World Championships.
Bolt was forced to withdraw from the Jamaican Olympic trials after tearing his hamstring during the first week of July.
Usain Bolt of Jamaica gives a thumbs up to the crowd as he goes round in a auto ahead of him competing in the men’s 200 meters during the Diamond League anniversary games at The Stadium, in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Lon.
Harrison’s 12.2-second run broke the previous record of 12.21 set by Bulgarian Yordanka Donkova in 1988. “I had to give it all I had”. I could see the time counting down and just thought, “oh my god, we are going to do it”. Disappointed but still determined, she turned her attention to a new goal – breaking the event’s 28-year-old world record. I feel I’m in better shape than I was a year ago.
Ohuruogu said: “It is progression, but I kind of wanted a bit more”.
“The execution wasn’t flawless, but it was my first run so I can’t complain”, the Jamaican said.
Bolt said it was one he had “definitely” passed – and, running into a slight headwind, he was right, even though he admitted to feeling rusty due to his lack of races.
“I didn’t think like that at trials”.
Gatlin, 34, who took silver behind Bolt at last year’s world championships in the 100m and 200m, has been one of Bolt’s most consistent rivals in recent years. I laughed when I heard it.
Olympic triple jump Christian Taylor prepared for his defense in Rio by reaching 17.78 meters.
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The quartet of Asha Philip, Desiree Henry, Daryl Neita and Dina Asher-Smith smashed the competition with an outstanding demonstration of speed – their time of 41.81sec was the fastest in 2016 and showed that they will be serious contenders for a relay medal in Rio.
