It was only Bolt’s first 200m in 2016 and the world record holder debuted quite impressively.
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Second place in the 200m went to Panamanian Alonso Edward, 20.04, who was close for the first 100m or so before seeing Bolt’s heels for the rest of the way with home boy Adam Gemili, 20.07 finishing third.
It was the first 200m race of the year the six-time Olympic champion who showed his determination to add a third straight sprint treble at next month’s Rio de Janeiro Games.
“The execution wasn’t ideal, but it was my first run so I can’t complain”, the Jamaican said. “But over time, I’ll be fine, I’ll just keep doing the work”, he reiterated. “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”. But I am feeling good. “I’m not fully in shape, I need more work”.
Asked earlier this week about whether the entire Russian team should be banned from Rio, Bolt was somewhat hesitant.
However, it was quickly corrected to 12.20, one hundredth of a second faster than the mark set by Bulgaria’s Yordanka Donkova in 1988 – four years before Harrison was born.
“Records are there to be broken”.
He goes into the Olympics (the 100m final is August 14) ranked Nos.
Bolt, back at the Olympic Stadium where he won three golds at London 2012 and in his final race before Rio, was greeted with the customary roar of approval when introduced to the crowd and responded with his famous “Lighting Bolt” signature pose.
Now might not be the best time to talk about the jinx which apparently comes with making the front cover of Sports Illustrated, although here is a gentle reminder.
It was also a clear sign the Sheffield athlete is very almost back to her best, two years after giving birth to her son Reggie and despite an Achilles problem earlier in the season. “I have one race in the hurdles [in the heptathlon]”, Ennis-Hill said. I run for medals.
It was an astonishing effort by an astonished athlete – after she had crossed the line five metres clear of a world class field which included Britain’s Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill the time which flashed up initially was only 12.57, but very soon it became clear that this was the time registered by second-placed U.S. hurdler Brianna Rollins, the 2013 world champion, and the winning time was amended to 12.20.
“I felt it was a joke”, Bolt said. “I’m just happy to win gold medals.’ But the more you get used to it and people say it more, then I start hanging out with my friends and I see a footballer and I’m like ‘Yo, I’m the fastest man in the world'”. It’s great to have.
Shortly after Harrison’s triumph Laura Muir from Scotland produced a performance that was nearly as impressive, blasting away from the field on the last lap to smash Kelly Holmes’ British 1500m record by 0.41sec.
Muir is not the only British athlete heading to Rio on a high with the women’s 4x100m relay team sending a huge warning to their rivals by setting a national record and running the fastest time anywhere in the world.
“We (in Great Britain) have very tight rules and I just wished other countries applied them”, Farah said Friday at a news conference.
Harrison will still be cheering on her teammates in Rio.
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It was only good enough for fifth place as Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas took victory in a world-leading 49.55.
