Usain Bolt put his recent hamstring problems behind him as he recorded 19.89sec to win over 200 metres in his last race before Rio 2016 at the International Association of Athletics Federations’ Diamond League meeting in London – but even Bolt had to give best on the night to the performance of United States 100m hurdler Kendra Harrison, who lowered one of the longest standing world records, the 1988 mark of 12.21 set by Bulgaria’s Yordanka Donkova, with a time of 12.20.
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He now holds world records in the 100 meters (9.58), 200 meters (19.19) and was part of the 4×100 meter relay team that set the current standard at the London Olympics (36.84).
Brushing aside any concerns about the hamstring injury which forced him to withdraw from his country’s Olympic trials in Kingston earlier this month, Bolt ran a solid time of 19.89sec in his first competitive 200m of this season.
The six-time Olympic gold medallist and world record holder at 100m and 200m was not at his brilliant best and had to work harder than usual in the closing stages, but finished clear of Panama’s Edward Alonso (20.04) and Britain’s Adam Gemili (20.07).
Bolt, who turns 30 next month, said: “I thought it wasn’t ideal”.
The other big news coming from the first night of the London Anniversary Games was the new world record set by America’s Kendra Harrison in the 100m hurdles.
Harrison, who has been the best American hurdler all season long, did not finish in the top three at the U.S. Olympic trials two weeks ago.
Brianna Rollins (12.57), Kristi Castlin (12.59) and Ali Nia (12.63), all Rio-bound after finishing 1-2-3 in the USA trials, finished in the same order, behind Harrison on Friday.
“Yes it definitely tells me I have passed this test”, Bolt told STAR Sports shortly after leaving the newly laid London Olympic Stadium track.
“I laughed when I heard it”.
“I knew I was in really good shape but I wanted to do it justice”. “I could feel the rust”.
Usain Bolt accused sprint rival Justin Gatlin of “disrespect” after proving his fitness for the Rio Olympics in London on Friday night. “The execution I think up there wasn’t ideal but it was my first run so I can’t complain”.
Bolt is going for an unprecedented triple-triple at the Rio Games this summer.
In the pole vault, the Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie was the comfortable victor, his mark of 5.90m being 7cm clear of American Sam Kendricks. He is trying to win three consecutive gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4 x 100 meter relay.
The action continues on Saturday, with the day’s highlight being the 5,000m, featuring home favourite Mo Farah.
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Meanwhile, British distance great Mo Farah followed on Friday fellow Olympic gold medalists Bolt and Jessica Ennis-Hill in supporting the banning of Russian track and field athletes from next month’s Olympic Games.
