Bolt leads Racers to world’s best at Gibson
WORLD 100 and 200 metres record-holder Usain Bolt anchored his Racers Lions Track Club team to a world-leading 38.08 seconds in the Institution Men’s 4×100 highlighting yesterday’s 34th staging of the Gibson Relays at the National Stadium in Kingston.
The previous world-leading mark of 39.91 was established by a New Zealand team of Carl van der Speck, Jeffrey Thumath, James Dolphin and Craig Bearda on January 16 in Auckland.
The Racers Lions quartet, which included Kenroy Anderson, Yohan Blake and Marvin Anderson, bettered the previous mark of 38.10secs set last year by another Racers team by 0.02 seconds.
Up to press time, six other meet records were erased at the Caribbean’s biggest relay carnival.
The record-breakers will share a prize pool of $500,000, which was offered by Gatorade for the fourth straight year. Fifteen institutions and athletes shared the award in 2009.
Meanwhile Bolt, who looked effortless in leading his team to victory, told the Sunday Observer they did not expect to clock such a fast time.
“We just went out there with two teams from the Racers Track Club having fun. We weren’t looking for any time, but we knew it would be fast because we are two great teams,” the triple Olympic and World Championships gold medallist said.
“That’s a good time and it shows that we’re all in shape. Blake ran the backstretch and Marvin on the third leg, so we’re looking good and it was a good effort from a well put-together team,” Bolt added.
The other Racers team of Andrew Hinds, Mario Forsythe, Warren Weir and Daniel Bailey finished second in 38.84secs, followed by a weakened MVP team in third with 39.37secs.
Asafa Powell, Nesta Carter and Michael Frater did not compete for MVP.