Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), May 24, 2010
THE world’s fastest man Usain Bolt clocked a superb 200 metres time of 19.76 seconds to win on the second stop of the IAAF Diamond League tour in Shanghai despite being given a difficult lane draw at the Chinese venue.
Bolt arrived at the meeting to find he had been given lane six, which is not considered the best when attacking the crown of the bend after the start of the race.
It seemed to make little difference to the 23-year-old Jamaican, however, as he made light of a strong breeze in the home straight to produce a world-class performance.
“I did not choose my lane, I did not know I was in lane six. I actually only found out when I got to the track, unless my agent (Ricky Simms) talked to my coach and agreed it,” said Bolt.
Whether Simms and Bolt’s coach were experimenting and giving the world record holder the chance to test himself out in an unhelpful lane has not been revealed.
But it made little difference as Bolt spreadeagled the opposition to win in a time which only Tyson Gay and Wallace Spearmon of the current crop of sprinters have bettered.
Bolt, whose next outing is over 300m at the IAAF World Challenge in Ostrava on Thursday, again insisted he has no plans to chase world records this season. His decision remains firm despite his arch-rival Gay insisting last week in Manchester – where he achieved a world 200m best performance in a straightline race – he might have to go faster than his world-leading marks if he is to beat Gay and Asafa Powell.
Bolt reiterated: “I said I’m not going to chase the records. I said it doesn’t matter if I get beaten this season because this season is the off season.
“If Tyson decides that he wants to beat the record, fine. For me, even if he wants to go chasing, I don’t.
“I’m just going to lead the run and try to stay unbeaten this season
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