In the pouring rain and a headwind of -0.9m/s, the triple Olympic gold medallist rocketed from the blocks, blazed the curve he loved so dearly, and then stopped the clock at 19.59 seconds to win the race by almost a full second.
The time ran by the towering sprinter was the fourth fastest time ever in the event and it delighted the counting gathering of around 14,000.
Bolt’s performance was a meeting record and is only a minor to his very own 19.30 world record, Michael Johnson’s 19.32 previous world mark and the world leading 19.58 American Tyson Gay ran five weeks ago in ideal conditions with a 1.3m/s following wind in New York.
The 22-year-old who ignited the Beijing Stadium last summer had his race held up for about fifteen minutes after the rain failed to ease up on the sprinters.
With the clouds only getting darker and conditions not looking too promising, meet officials decided to go ahead and resume the meeting with all eyes being on Bolt and the clock.
No Warnings, Just His Test
The Jamaican said he would lay down something promising by going all-out in his first 200m of the season, but no one, not even he himself nor his coach Glen Mills, were expecting such a performance, given the 60-degree temperature the race was run in.
Making his performance even scarier was the fact that Bolt said he is not in shape yet, but will be ready for the world championships next month.
"I'm in good shape, but I'm not fully ready yet," the 22-year-old Jamaican, who said he wants to peak for the world championships said. "I still need to work on a few technical things.
"I pushed myself right to the end because I wanted to really test myself. Would I have broken the world record (19.30sec) had it been better weather?
"I don't even think of it in those terms, I was just trying to test myself. I didn't think it possible to get so much pleasure in running in these conditions.
Asked if his dazzling run was a message to his arch rival Gay, Bolt said no, again sealing his statement it was just to test himself.
However, we all know better than that.
"I wasn't here to impress my rivals but to check out at what level I am at the moment.
"I felt relaxed despite the rain. Therefore I wasn't even thinking about what I could have done if it had been good weather," added Bolt, whose next race will be the 100m in the Golden League meeting in Paris.
It was all about Jamaican in sprints, as another Olympic hero, Shelly Ann Fraser, the 100m champion from Beijing, handed the red hot American champion Carmelita Jeter her first defeat in the women’s 100m.
Fraser left everyone for dead in the blocks and held her form to win the race comfortably in 11.03secs, easing down in the final metres to beat Jeter, second in 11.06.
Asafa Powell Fast Too
Former world record holder Asafa Powell destroyed a solid field, which included the in form American Michael Rogers to win the men’s 100m in 10.07.
"I hate running in the rain but I am very happy with my performance," said Powell.
Powell defeated his fellow country Steve Mulling, while Rogers was third.
Another big time performance came from Jamaica’s Isa Phillips, the champion over the men’s 400m hurdles with a solid 48.18secs.
Phillips, a strong candidate for a medal at the world championships left reigning American world champion Kerron Clement into second place.
 |
