Bolt does just enough to qualify
MOSCOW, Russia — Claiming that he is “not a morning person” World Record holder Usain Bolt did just enough to get through to the semi-finals of the 200m at the 14th IAAF World Championships in Moscow Russia, running 20.66 seconds, the 21st fastest time of the 24 men who qualified for the second round.
Not even the dropping of a starting block on his right foot, it seems, will stop him from becoming the first man to win three consecutive World Championships 200m titles on Saturday.
Bolt said he is in good condition and the break between events helped him recover.
“My legs recovered as I had a few days but I am happy with how I feel” he said, “I am just trying to get through the rounds.”
He wore a thin bandage around his right foot while breezing through the media mixed zone after the first round and told the Observer he was not feeling any pain.
All four Jamaican men Bolt, Warren Weir, Nickel Ashmeade and Jason Livermore advanced easily with Bolt hardly breaking a sweat or getting out of first gear to lead home former Munro College runner and World Junior 200m champion Delano Williams running for Great Britain.
In semi-final 2 Bolt will line up against team mate Livermore and James Ellington of Great Britain.
Olympic bronze medallist Weir who won his heat in 20.34 seconds dragging Spaniard Bruno Hortelano to a National Record 20.47 seconds will be in the first semi-final where he will face Britain’s Williams and France’s Jimmy Vicaut.
Ashmeade who was second to Panama’s Alonso Edward in the first round is in the third semi-final with Wallace Spearmon of the US and The Netherlands’ Churandy Martina.
The top two from each semi final, and the next two best times will advance to Saturday’s final at 11:10am Jamaica time.
Meanwhile, all three female sprint hurdlers qualified for the semi-finals to be run at 9:20am Jamaica time Saturday.
Andrea Bliss who qualified as one of the fastest losers after placing sixth in her first round heat in 13.20 seconds will line up in the first semi-final.
Shermaine Williams who was third in her heat has been drawn in the second semi-final while National Champion Danielle Williams who advanced after placing third in her first round heat in 13.11 seconds runs in the third semi-final.
–Paul Reid
