Bolt talking the talk
USAIN Bolt will be hunting an unprecedented fourth World Championships 200m title in what promises to be another mouth-watering clash with Justin Gatlin after both eased into today’s final set for 7:55 am (Jamaican time).
Gatlin won semi-final two in a decent 19.87 seconds which is the fourth fastest time this year behind his 19.57 seconds clocking, while Bolt ran his season’s best, 19.96 seconds despite jogging the last 40 metres to win semi-final three.
Bolt who won titles in 2009, 2011 and 2013 said this fourth title is just as important and that he is hungry for another success.
“It would be a big deal for me. I am definitely looking forward to that and that’s my focus tomorrow (today),” said Bolt.
Bolt who will be in lane six won’t have the luxury of seeing his main rival Gatlin who will have the advantage of starting behind. That gives Gatlin the opportunity to watch every move that Bolt makes but the champion is unperturbed.
“It’s all about who runs the corner the best and who can hold their form to the last 40m that will determine who wins this race and as I said, I am feeling much better, so I am looking forward to it,” said Bolt.
“I am a great competitor and everybody knows that. It’s all about focus now and showing the people that when it comes to the big times, I always show up and get things done,” he added.
But the race is not all about Bolt and Gatlin and there will be an intriguing battle for the bronze medal between Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain, Jamaica’s Nickel Ashmeade, Alonso Edward of Panama, Anaso Jobodwana of South Africa and Ramil Guliyev of Turkey.
Warren Weir and Julian Forte ran races to forget and both failed to qualify for the final. Weir, the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist who also won silver at the 2013 World Championship placed seventh in semi-final one with 20.43 seconds. Forte ran 20.57 seconds in semi-final two and was eighth.
Four Jamaicans will line up in the women’s 400m final as Shericka Jackson, Stephenie-Ann McPherson, Christine Day and veteran Novlene Williams-Mills will have to run their best match race favourites, Shaunae Miller, Allyson Felix, Christine Ohuruogu and Phyliss Francis.
Williams-Mills is in lane two, dark horse Jackson is in lane four with Day and McPherson in lanes eight and nine respectively. The final is set for 7:40 am today.