Lightning Bolt strikes Beijing; Powell fails yet again

The Jamaican coasts to 100m win with a world-record 9.69 seconds; Gay did not even make the final — PHOTO: AP

HOME ALONE: Usain Bolt crosses the finish line, with the pack a considerable distance behind, to win gold in the men’s 100m final.

BEIJING: It was not exactly a bolt from the blue.

The whole world knew that Usain Bolt would bag Jamaica’s first ever 100m gold at the Olympics. The 1.96-metre Bolt rose to the occasion to deliver on the promise, with a stunning world record 9.69 second dash in the final.

The beauty of the execution was that the 21-year-old Bolt had so much time and so much confidence, bordering on audacity, as he marked his victory 20 metres from the finish, looking on either side and dropping his arms. He ran through after the finish in celebration even as a dejected Asafa Powell looked up to the scoreboard to see he had once again finished out of the medals bracket.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Richard Thompson had a personal best of 9.89 and a surprise silver while Walter Dix salvaged some pride for the US by taking the bronze in 9.91 seconds. Powell finished fifth.

The world champion, Tyson Gay of the US, was eliminated in the semifinals.

Coasting to victory

The packed stadium watched in disbelief as Bolt stepped up the tempo after the 40m mark following a relatively poor start (0.165s). He showed what great form he was in by breezing through the final half.

Bolt had set the previous world record of 9.72 seconds in New York last May, slicing 0.2s off Powell’s previous record. The Olympics dash was thus set as a showdown among two Jamaicans and an American but in the event, Bolt just had no one to challenge him.

Powell finished fifth with a 9.93, behind Churandy Martina (9.93) of the Netherland Antilles and ahead of compatriot Michael Frater (9.97). Powell had finished fifth in Athens and had taken the bronze in the last World championships is Osaka. Once again, the reputation of choking in a big event will haunt Powell.

Only the last two, Marc Burns (10.01) of Trinidad and Tobago and Darvis Patton (10.03) of the US narrowly failed to breach the 10-second mark.

Gay falls short

Gay, recovering from a hamstring injury, lost out on a place in the finals by 0.02 seconds as he finished fifth at 10.05 in his semifinal that was won by Powell at 9.91.

“I gave it my best. I got a good start. I was unfortunate. I started feeling tired towards the middle. I am pretty upset,” said Gay.

Francis Obikwelu of Portugal, the Athens silver medalist, also failed to make the final.

Natalia Dobrynska (6733) and Lyudmila Blonska (6700) gave an impressive 1-2 for Ukraine in the heptathlon.

Valerie Vili of New Zealand captured the women’s shot put gold with a 20.56, her first throw in the final.

“I was so emotional and happy. We achieved what we came here to do,” said Vili.

Earlier, in the warmth of the morning, Valeriy Borchin of Russia recovered from a slow start to fetch Russia’s first Olympic gold in the men’s 20km walk, as he beat the three-time world champion Jefferson Perez of Ecuador by 14 seconds.

The 21-year-old Borchin pulled ahead at the half way mark, and shrugged off Perez in the last three kilometres. In the last two kilometres, Borchin, with only one lifting warning, sped away from the rest.

“Race walking is rather unpredictable. Fortunately, I made it today. It was difficult to fight people from Ecuador and Spain. I had done a lot of preparations. I have been training all alone,” said the Russian.

Perez, who had won the gold in Atlanta in 1996, said that he was pleased with the silver.

“I feel lucky to have competed with three generations of Russian race walkers. I am really happy that I have been able to compete here after 12 years,” said Perez, who collapsed in the mixed zone owing to heat exhaustion.

Isinbayeva tops qualifiers

In women’s pole-vault, outright favourite, two-time world champion Elena Isinbaeva of Russia topped with a 4.60 in the qualification jumps. The question is whether she will break her world record of 5.04 in winning her second Olympic gold.

“I can get in the final at my first attempt. It is great. My goal is to break my world record. I feel confident,” Isinbaeva said.

Aiming to win her first Olympic gold in the 400 metres, Sanya Richards of the US topped the qualifiers with a time of 50.54.

In the women’s 100m second round, Jamaica spelt out a strong warning to the rest of the field, as Kerron Stewart led with a 10.98 along with compatriots Sherone Simpson (11.02) and Shelly-Ann Fraser (11.06).

The 18-year-old Pamela Jelimo of Kenya qualified for the women’s 800 metres final as second best, 0.03 seconds behind compatriot Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei (1:57.28), while six-time Olymian, the Sydney Games champion Maria Mutola of Mozambique also qualified at 1:58.61.

In the men’s 3000 metres steeplechase, Yakob Jarso of Ethiopia topped the qualifiers with a personal best 8:16.88.

The reigning Olympic champion, Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya was fourth in qualification with a 8:17.55.

US, Jamaica dominate

In men’s discus, world and Olympic champion, Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania was second, 10 centimetres behind Piotr Malachowski of Poland in the qualification with a 65.84,

The Americans and the Jamaicans — five of them among the eight qualifiers — looked strong in the men’s 400m hurdles, led by Angleo Taylor at 47.94 and Kerron Clement at 48.27 in the two semifinals.