MOSCOW, Russia — Usain Bolt made his first appearance in Moscow a memorable one yesterday as he cruised into today’s semi-finals of the men’s 100m on the opening day of the 14th IAAF World Championships at the Luzhniki Stadium.
The Jamaican sprinting superstar stayed calm after Cayman Islands’ Kemar Hyman false-started, to win the seventh and final heat in 10.07 seconds, and lead the Jamaican quartet into the semi-finals. Also through are Kemar Bailey-Cole, who won the first heat in 10.02; Nesta Carter, who also won his heat (#2) in 10.11 seconds, while Nickel Ashmeade was second in 10.12 seconds behind American Michael Rodgers, who posted the fastest time of 9.98 seconds in heat six, just ahead of compatriot Justin Gatlin, who won heat three in 9.99 seconds.Meanwhile, all three female 400m runners also advanced easily, while long jumper Francine Simpson had three no jumps and failed to advance, ending her championship sadly on day one.The 400m women all eased through their first-round assignments led by cancer survivor Novlene Williams-Mills, as well as Stephanie McPherson and Patricia Hall.“It feels good to just come out and compete,” said Williams-Mills, who wore a pink bracelet and pink laces in her running spikes in honour of breast cancer survivors.In her first race in over a month since failing to complete a race in Lausanne on July 4, Williams-Mills said it was good to be back on the track, adding that a knee injury that has been bothering her was only a slight concern.Central American and Caribbean Senior Championships gold medallist Simpson had a forgettable first day, failing to make a legal mark in the qualifying of the women’s long jump.But all eyes on the opening salvo of the Moscow games were on Briton Mo Farah, who continued his impressive track form by claiming a hard-fought victory in the world 10,000m, and the sprint phenomenon Bolt, who strolled to his victory, teasing the Moscow faithful who expect greater things come today and onward.The track icon and world record holder of both the 100m and the 200m, who is within touching distance of equalling American sprint legend Carl Lewis’ record of eight world gold medals, clocked his pedestrian time in a heat which featured neither American rival Tyson Gay nor his compatriot Asafa Powell after both tested positive for banned substances.The Jamaican saw teammate Yohan Blake claim victory in Daegu after his shock false start in the final, the one blip on his impressive CV that includes Olympic gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay events in Beijing and London, and five world titles, as well as the 100m and 200m world records.Bolt will be joined in today’s semi-finals by American rivals Justin Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion, London bronze medallist and double world champion in 2005, and Mike Rodgers, who have both served doping bans.The duo were the only sprinters to clock sub-10 seconds times to serve notice that Bolt will not have it all his own way.“I am happy with my run,” said Bolt. “I took it easy as it was the first round. I just wanted to get my reaction and start right.“The false start in my heat didn’t affect me. I made that mistake in Daegu and now I’m staying focused,” Bolt said afterwards.Farah, who is attempting to replicate the double 5,000-10,000m gold he claimed at last year’s London Olympics, had a slow race pace, American training partner Galen Rupp and his own definitive race-end kick to thank for his victory.There was an all-too-familiar finish to the 25-lap race when Ethiopia’s defending world champion Ibrahim Jeilan tried to edge past Farah on the final bend.Two years ago in the Daegu Worlds, Farah wilted into second behind the sprint-clever Ethiopian, but a season dedicated to honing his speed this time paid dividends.With Jeilan and his three teammates plus a strong Kenyan line-up, Farah said he and Rupp, who both train in Oregon, Portland, with Alberto Salazar, had tried “to work together and to cover every move”.Jeilan took silver and Kenyan Paul Tanui, bronze, with Rupp just missing out on the podium in fourth.The second gold on offer on the opening day of competition went to Tanui’s teammate Edna Kiplagat, who became the first woman to retain the world marathon title.The 33-year-old, who could only finish 20th in the London Olympics last year, timed 2:25.44 to take gold ahead of long-time leader Valeria Straneo of Italy (2:25.58), while Japan’s Kayoko Fukushi took bronze (2:27.45).“I’m delighted I was able to defend my title successfully. I got confident I was going to win at the 40km mark when I upped my pace,” Kiplagat said.Olympic champion Tiki Gelana of Ethiopia never featured on her return to competition after being knocked over by a wheelchair competitor during this year’s London Marathon.In the decathlon, Olympic champion Ashton Eaton of the United States started well, clocking a leading 10.35sec in the 100m, a third-best 7.73m in the long jump, and 14.39m in the shot put.But the world record holder and silver medallist in Daegu dropped to fourth after a best in the high jump of 1.93m. Teammate Gunnar Nixon’s 2.14m saw him soar into the lead, followed by German Michael Schrader.Eaton duly retook the overnight lead with a 46.02sec in the 400m, leaving him on 4,502 points, just nine ahead of Nixon, and Schrader a further 66 points adrift.Reigning double world champion Trey Hardee, in fifth after three events, failed to register a height in the high jump for a disappointing end to his campaign.Today’s second day of action features the 110m hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin and the 1,500m.Meanwhile, two-time Olympic Games 100m gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce leads two other Jamaican women, Kerron Stewart and Schillonie Calvert, in the first round of the 100m at 2:55 am today.Also, London Olympic Games bronze medallist Hansle Parchment and Andrew Riley are expected to face the starter in the men’s 110m hurdles heats, as Jamaica’s third entrant, Dwight Thomas, has withdrawn with an injury.The men’s 400m heats will also be on track with Javere Bell, Javon Francis and Omar Johnson down to compete.MOSCOW, Russia — Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt (left) cruises to victory to win his heat of the men’s 100 metres at the 14th IAAF World Championships at the Luzhniki Stadium here yesterday. (PHOTOS: GARFIELD ROBINSON)MOSCOW, Russia — Jamaica’s Francine Simpson in action in the women’s long jump.MOSCOW, Russia — Britian’s Mo Farah celebrates after winning the 10,000-metre gold.MOSCOW, Russia — Jamaica’s Nesta Carter (centre) wins his heat of the men’s 100m.(L-R) MOSCOW, Russia — Kemar Bailey- Cole after winning his heat of the men’s 100m. MOSCOW, Russia — Jamaica’s Stephanie McPherson in action in the women’s 400m heats.MOSCOW, Russia — Usain Bolt breaks into his trademark smile after winning his heat of the men’s 100 metres at the 14th IAAF World Championships inside the Luzhniki Stadium here yesterday. (PHOTO: GARFIELD ROBINSON)
View the original article here
So far, so good - Mouthwatering prospects in men’s 100m
