Usain Bolt marked his return from injury by winning the 200 metres at the London Diamond League meet in his final race before heading to Rio in search of three more Olympic titles.
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Speaking after this 200m victory during the London Anniversary Games, the six-time Olympic champion clocked 19.89 seconds in his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury. Harrison’s compatriots finished 2-4 behind her, with U.S. Olympic Trials champion Brianna Rollins coming in at 12.57, and Rollins’s fellow Olympic teammates Kristi Castlin and Nia Ali finishing in 12.59 and 12.63, respectively.
Harrisson, however, WILL NOT be running in Rio-a testament to the super competitive United States trials where she finished sixth.
With Rio no longer an option, Harrison focused on a different goal.
“The pressure of already having the American record and being so close to the world record is only going to push me to go for the world”, she said on Thursday.
She picked up a cheque for $50,000 for hew new world record, a record she says she intends to break before the season is over.
“We (in Great Britain) have very tight rules and I just wished other countries applied them”, Farah said Friday at a news conference.
In the IAAF Diamond League 100m, Jimmy Vicaut was one of a number of French winners on the night, pulling clear of the field in the final 30 metres to win in 10.02.
“At least I came here, ran the race and had no injuries”. “I don’t think I executed well but I’m happy I’ve come off the race and I’m happy to go to Rio to defend my titles (100m, 200m and 4x100m)”.
Nothing could top Kendra Harrison’s performance though, as the American broke the 100m hurdles world record with a scintillating 12.20 (+0.3) performance.
“I was in pretty good shape before I had to pull out, so I wasn’t really anxious”.
He was excited about his victory as he “was not feeling in shape because I’ve been ill the last few days” but he said “being able to adjust everything and be able to jump really high” was interesting as he prepares for the Rio games.
“I could feel the rust, definitely”, admitted Bolt.
The world record had stood since 1988 and was previously held by Yordanka Donkova of Bulgaria. Home favourite Jessica Ennis-Hill was also competing on Friday, but it was Bolt the majority – including a group of journalists from Rio who had travelled especially to make sure the world record holder had fully recovered from his hamstring tear – came to see.
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The line-up of Asha Philip, Desiree Henry, Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita looked hugely impressive as they clocked a world leading time – not to mention a British record – of 41.81 seconds in flawless conditions.
