Reuters
Beijing, August 25: A tired Usain Bolt and an emotionally fatigued Justin Gatlin progressed towards their second blockbuster sprint showdown of the World Championships by easing through the 200 metres heats here Tuesday.
Bolt shot out of the blocks and led for the entire race before easing up over the final 15 metres to cross the line in 20.28 seconds. The 29-year-old Jamaican said he was still feeling the effects of the 100 metres but will be looking to raise the pace in Wednesday’s semifinals.
“Tired, tired, tired,” the Olympic champion and world record holder told reporters. “This means a lot more to me. I’m a little worried about my fitness and I need to work a lot over 200m. But I’m a better technical runner over the 200m so we’ll see what happens. I definitely will try and get back to my best shape.”
Gatlin was even more dominant in the following heat, maintaining his form through the line to win in 20.19s.
The 33-year-old American, who owns the fastest time of the year (19.57), said he would have eased up but for the presence behind him of Japan’s Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, who finished second in 20.35.
“The 100 metres final was a difficult one for me, also emotionally,” said Gatlin. “But now I’m going for the 200 metres. I have two days to go to prepare.”
Such has been the effect of the rivalry between Bolt and Gatlin, the surprise gold-winning feats faded into oblivion. In the first, Kenyan policeman Nicholas Bett charged down the home straight to win the 400 metres hurdles title.
Drawn in the outside lane nine, Bett had to run the race blind, unable to see his rivals until the final stages. He was placed fifth coming off the last bend, but he overtook Russia’s Denis Kudryavtsev over the final flight of barriers and stormed home in 47.79 seconds.
Kudryavtsev held on for the silver medal in a Russian record 48.05s with Jeffery Gibson of the Bahamas taking bronze in 48.17.
In another stunning upset, Cuba’s Denia Caballero won the women’s discus title. Caballero threw 69.28 metres to beat defending World and Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic of Croatia, whose best of 67.39m won her silver. Germany’s Nadine Mueller claimed bronze (65.53m).
It was a good day for Great Britain as Greg Rutherford won the long jump title with a leap of 8.41 metres in his third attempt. He thus became the fifth British athlete to hold the World, Olympic, European and Commonwealth
titles at the same time.