Usain Bolt came to Beijing and did his business, and had some fun!
Anyone who doubts just how good of a racer that Usain Bolt is, just replay the 200 meters that he ran tonight, letting up and pointing to himself, as he ran 19.55 World leader, letting up over the last fifteen meters!
Usain Bolt looking at his people, photo by PhotoRun.net
There is no one in the world like Usain Bolt, and there never will be again.
It is one thing to run fast, many people can run fast. But there are few that have captured the hearts and imaginations of the world. Usain Bolt has since his first venture into the Bird’s Nest in 2008, when he destroyed how the world looked at sprinters. Usain Bolt just has fun, and he runs hard, very hard.
Take tonight.
Usain Bolt, photo by PhotoRun.net
Many thought he was not going to survive the meeting with Justin Gatlin in the 100 meters. Well, Justin Gatlin, after 28 race wins, had some stage fright, and did not run his best race. More dangerously, he competed in a level, that 9.70 to 9.80 world, where Usain Bolt can run on muscle memory.
2015 has not been kind to Usain Bolt. Just some niggling injuries, and a short period of time to get ready, due to those issues, put him on a tough timeline for August 2015.
But, in the 100 meters, Usain Bolt ran his race, and ran down Justin Gatlin, running away from him in the 100 meters, 9.79 to 9.80. It was a close race, and that is where Usain Bolt excels.
Truth is, Usain Bolt is in pretty good shape, but he is always in great competitive shape.
The guy just does not like to loose. Not in front of his people.
In the 200 meters tonight, Usain Bolt, with the confidence that comes from a hard won 100 meter victory, just took off and had Justin Gatlin by the end of the curve and off said turn, churning up the track with each of his explosive, large strides! If the MONDO track could talk, it would be screaming.
Usain Bolt churned down the track, one seismic stride at a time, and by 170 meters, there was nothing that Justin Gatlin could do, but finish in second in 19.74.
Usain Bolt ran out of his mind, and out of his body. His 19.55, the World leader is his best mark, but the first time that he has been under 19.60 since August 23, 2012, when he ran 19.57!
And not that what Justin Gatlin ran was no slouch either. Justin Gatlin’s 19.74 is the second fastest NON-Bolt time at World Champs!
The race was deep, with Anaso Jobodwana, RSA, taking the bronze in 19.87, a National record. In fourth, Alonso Edward of Panama ran 19.87 as well, his seasonal best. And the young British sprinter, training with Usain, Zharnel Hughes, ran 20.02, for a new PB in fifth.
This race however, belongs to Usain Bolt. With Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland crushing the Championship record in the hammer throw in 80.85m, and then, Christian Taylor leaping 18.21m, or 59’9″ for the second longest jump in history, plus an American record, and then, Allyson Felix winning her 400 meters in a PB of 49.26, it has been a real evening of championship track and field!
Usain Bolt has a relay in front of him, and one race in Europe, then, time to rest!
