Bolt, Blake, Weir — 1-2-3 in 200m final?
LONDON, England – With minimum effort all three Jamaican men, led by defending champion and World and Olympic Record holder Usain Bolt, cruised into the semi-finals of the men’s 200m set for tomorrow.
This morning’s first round heats were run in cold conditions at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, London.
Bolt, Yohan Blake and Warren Weir, all three from the Racers camp, easily won their respective heats setting up what could be a 1-2-3 finish in the 200m final.
Bolt, who ran 20.39 seconds in the first heat was comfortable with his performance. “I’m happy with myself, it was all about going out there and qualifying taking it as easy as possible so it was good work,” he said.
The defending champion said he hopes to run harder in the semi-finals. “I just have to push myself a little harder and run the corner more technically so I can work on a few more things, it’s my favourite event so I am really looking forward to it.’
Blake who continues to improve his curve, ran 20.38 seconds and said “it was a controlled race and I did what the coach told me to do which was to take it easy and qualify for the second round.”
Weir, in his first Olympics, ran the fastest time (20.29 seconds) in the qualifying rounds. “I feel pretty good knowing I came through the first round pretty comfortable under no pressure.”
The former Calabar High School sprint hurdler said the weather did not affect him as he has been in Europe for two months now, “so I am pretty well acclimatised.”