Following Saturday night’s blistering 19.56-second 200-metre dash by Usain Bolt at the Jamaica National-sponsored Jamaica Inter-national Invitational, the triple world and Olympic champion now has six of the top-10 fastest times ever run over the distance.
Saturday night’s time ranks as the fourth-fastest time ever.
Only Bolt – with 19.19 in Berlin, 2009; 19.30 in Beijing, 2008 – and Michael Johnson’s 19.32 in 1996, are faster.
Bolt’s 19.57, Tyson Gay’s 19.58, Bolt’s 19.59, Gay’s 19.62 and Bolt and Xavier Carter’s 19.63, round out the top-10 fastest times.
The incredible time augurs well for the seemingly invincible Bolt, whose race was the highlight of a very successful meet.
Outstanding athletes
An estimated 28,000 crammed into the National Stadium to witness outstanding performances from several athletes, including American sprinter Carmelita Jeter, Veronica Campbell Brown, Nesta Carter, Tyson Gay and high jumper Chante Howard.
“This is the first time the Invitational has gotten such a big crowd, so I came out and gave the people what they came for. I did my best and I hope they appreciate it,” said Bolt, adding that he was not seeking to break any records during this season, since there are no major championships.
Bolt is down to compete in at least two more 200-metre runs for the 2010 season: on May 23 at the IAAF Diamond League in Shanghai, China, and on July 8 at the Athletissima in Lausanne, Switzerland. He will also compete in the rarely run 300-metre at the Golden Spike in Ostrava on May 27.
According to Bolt’s unofficial schedule, the super sprinter will contest the 100 metres at the Colorful Daegu meeting on May 19. He is also set to compete at the Adidas Grand Prix in New York on June 12; at the Meeting Areva in Paris on July 16; and at the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels on August 27.
He is expected to match up against fellow Jamaican sprinter, Asafa Powell, and American rival Tyson Gay between three and four times this season.
‘This is the first time the Invitational has gotten such a big crowd, so I came out and gave the people what they came for. I did my best and I hope they appreciate it.’
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