World Athletics Championships
DAEGU: Usain Bolt signalled that reports of his vulnerability might be exaggerated when he stormed to the quickest time in the first round of the 100 metres heats at the world championships today.
The double world and Olympic sprint champion served up by far the most dominant victory in a time of 10.10 seconds while clearly easing up over the last 10 metres.
After a season less dominant than the previous three, some former champions and absent rivals have been suggesting that Bolt might actually be beatable in the blue-riband sprint in Daegu.
The world record holder has admitted he is not in ”tip-top” condition but if that has dented his confidence Bolt was not showing it as he gave a vintage display of finger shooting and hair preening before the start. Getting out of his blocks in a slick 0.153 seconds, the Jamaican was well clear of the field halfway down Daegu’s blue track and gently put on the brakes as he approached the finish line. ”I feel great,” the 25-year-old told reporters. Bolt brushed aside talk of his vulnerability.
”They are going to always say whatever they want.” Bolt’s quest to retain the title he won in a world record time two years ago in Berlin has been eased by the absence through injury of his most likely challengers, American Tyson Gay and fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell. (Reuters)
