Bolt & Gatlin Reach 200m Final

A day before the final, he wasnt about to give away any race strategy about how he was going to accomplish that, only saying his plan was to “stay in front.”.

“It was great”, the Anguilla-born Hughes said. Wier’s compatriot Nickel Ashmeade (20.19s) came second.

Gatlin and Bolt compete in the 200m semi-finals on Wednesday, with the final on Thursday.

Bolt, who had struggled for form and fitness all season, stumbled his way through the semi-finals and got nowhere close to the times that Gatlin had been posting until he surged past the American over the last 30 meters at the Bird’s Nest Stadium. Defending champion Usain Bolt and the rival he conquered in the 100 metres Justin Gatlin advanced to the next stage.

Gatlin agreed that he was looking forward to again racing Bolt.

If she wants the record in Sunday’s final, she will likely have to change the tactics she used to win her first gold in Beijing – the 1,500 – when she hung back for half the race before kicking for home. But Bolt’s Jamaican magic could well spoil Gatlin’s dreams and only those blind to history could discount his chances of beating Gatlin once more.

“I think he’s faring well, he looks impressive”, Nehemiah continued.

Why would he? When youre this good — the Jamaican is going for a fourth straight world championship title in the 200 meters on Thursday night — you can afford to be extremely confident.

Such disbelief and shrouding of controversy over the said sport was somehow redeemed though Bolt’s victory. “Everybody knows the 200m actually means more (to) me than the 100m, so I’m trying to get through the rounds as comfortably as possible and using as little energy as possible”.

Another Ethiopian, Hagos Gebrhiwet, won the first heat, clocking 13:45.00 to set up a mouth-watering clash in the final scheduled for 1130GMT on Saturday.

Galtin was second in a time of 19.74, while Anaso Jobodwana claimed the bronze in a South African record of 19.87, finishing 0.002 ahead of Alonso Edward.

Upon embarking on his momentous victory lap, things did for a moment come to a crashing halt for Bolt, with the 29-year-old soon finding himself being taken out by a photographer on a segway.

“He shouldn’t be the guy who takes all the brunt of all the criticism and condemnation”, said Renaldo Nehemiah. Also progressing to the 15-man final will be Farah’s training partner Galen Rupp of the US.

Ash appeared to move when the field was set in the blocks and the red flag was waved.

The American was not too happy at the decision and several minutes of confusion ensued before he finally left the track.