published: Tuesday | September 2, 2008
Usain Bolt .. will run 200m. - File
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (CMC):
New world track and field sensation, Usain Bolt, is poised to light up the Athletissima Super Grand Prix track and field meeting today.
The 22-year-old Jamaican, who majestically smashed both the 100 and 200-metre world records to emerge the star of the Beijing Olympics, is one of 12 individual Olympic gold medallists last month appearing at the Swiss meet.
Organisers are anticipating a possible threat to the 200-metre record on what has been described as the "super-fast" Pontaise track, which has produced big results in the last two Athletissima editions - Xavier Carter's 19.63 meeting record in 2006 and Tyson Gay's 19.78 in 2007.
Bolt, the first man in history to win three Olympic sprint gold medals (100, 200 metres and 4x100 relay) with world record times, will tackle American Olympic medallists Shawn Crawford and Walter Dix in the half-lap sprint.
The field also includes American Wallace Spearmon, originally third in Beijing before being disqualified for a lane violation.
Intriguing sprints
The 100-metre sprints are also intriguing with Bolt's Jamaica teammates, Asafa Powell and Olympic women's champion Shelly-Ann Fraser, booked to appear.
Asafa Powell from Jamaica in a pensive mood during a press conference, one day before the Athletissima meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, yesterday. Powell will run in the men's 100-metre race at the meet. - AP
Former world record holder Powell, who rebounded from his Beijing disappointment with a fluent 9.87 win at the British Grand Prix on Sunday, will meet a bunch of Beijing finalists - silver medallist Richard Thompson from Trinidad and Tobago, bronze medallist Walter Dix of the USA, fourth place finisher Churandy Martina from the Netherlands Antilles, Jamaican counterpart Michael Frater (6th) and Trinidad and Tobago's Marc Burns (7th).
The women's 100-metre field has Fraser, Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson, who swept the medals in Beijing.
They will face US sprinters Muna Lee, Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams, who won at the British Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of Fraser.
In the women's 400 metres, surprise Jamaican Beijing silver medallist, Shericka Williams, will face American Sanya Richards, who finished behind her at the Olympics, while the sprint hurdles are among the key events at the meet.
Upset winner
Dawn Harper, an upset winner in Beijing, will tackle fellow American Lolo Jones, who crashed into a hurdle while in the lead in Beijing to place seventh in the Olympic final.
Jamaicans Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Delloreen Ennis-London, both finalists in Beijing, are also entered for the 100-metre hurdles, along with Canadian Olympic bronze medallist Priscilla Lopez Schliep, World indoor 60-metre hurdles record holder Susanna Kallur, from Sweden and the 2004 Olympic champion Johanna Hayes from the USA.
In the men's 110-metre hurdles, Cuban Olympic champion Dayron Robles could be pushed by Amerian Olympic bronze medallist David Oliver, who ran him close in Zurich last Friday.
After her emphatic women's 400-metre hurdles triumph in Beijing, followed by an easy win at the British Grand Prix on Sunday, Jamaican Melaine Walker is favoured to continue her winning form.
She has already won in Ostrava, Rome, London and Monaco on the IAAF World Athletics Tour.
Bahamian Beijing bronze medal winner Leevan Sands goes in the men's triple jump against Olympic champion Nelson Evora, of Portugal.
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