Usain Bolt Wins Rome 100m But Leaves it Late to Edge out Asafa Powell
Kamis, 26 Mei 2011 by Android Blackberry
• Jamaican Bolt wins Rome Diamond League 100m by 0.02sec
• Phillips Idowu leaps 17.59m in triple jump
Usain Bolt had mentioned he wanted to show the globe he was back in company, but by his personal lofty requirements the Jamaican's comeback season could prove much more tricky than even he had thought as he was left fighting for victory in the 100 metres at the Diamond League meeting in Rome.
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| Usain Bolt, right, celebrates with Jamaican compatriot Asafa Powell after the 100m in Rome |
Following a poor start out at the Stadio Olimpico the triple planet record holder was within the unusual position of gritting his teeth all the solution to the line, only just fending off his compatriot plus the former planet record holder Asafa Powell to win in 9.91sec.
"I was so nervous I got a negative get started after which type of started to panic," the 24-year-old mentioned. "My coach will analyse the race. I was not proud of the race but I'm acquiring there."
On the commence line Bolt had mouthed for the cameras, "Number one inside the world, I'm ready," but his winning time together with the slightest of tailwinds does not rather leading the planet rankings - a place occupied by an additional Jamaican whom he will now face in Ostrava on Tuesday, Steve Mullings.
Nonetheless, the second fastest time within the world this year - on his to begin with outing - isn't a thing to be sniffed at and Bolt will surely be relieved to have got this race and to begin with victory out of the way. Earlier this week Bolt had admitted he felt nervous for the primary time in his senior profession, the memories of a disappointing 2010 which ended in defeat to arch rival Tyson Gay as well as a recurrence with the back injury caused by scoliosis of the spine clearly nevertheless fresh in his thoughts.
On crossing the finish line Bolt had glanced across to Powell to give the kindest of smiles, 1 that seemed to say: practically, my friend, but not really. For despite a poor commence, by far the worst with the best 3 finishers, Bolt's indomitable strength remains his incredible ability to plough up the track over the last 50m. For Powell, finishing just 0.02secs behind Bolt was a lost possibility. "I was too focused on Usain and so he beat me," stated the 28-year-old. "I'm just a little upset with myself. I know that I had to take this victory, I lost a really essential chance."
Soon after watching such a close run race against a world-class field that included the European double sprint champion Christophe Lemaitre who finished third in 10secs, the 47,732 people that turned out to catch a glimpse of Bolt in Rome's Stadio Olimpico will not have been disappointed. The Jamaican remains the unmistakable star with the athletics world, even as he strolled out onto the track hundreds of people crowded towards the front with the stand to get a image and take a closer search in the sprint sensation.
Meanwhile, Britain's planet champion Phillips Idowu posted a new planet top distance of 17.59m with his third attempt in the triple jump, but the 32-year-old will likely be disappointed that he couldn't get closer to the elusive 18m barrier.
Dai Greene opened his hurdling season with an impressive performance in the 00m hurdles - not that the Welshman was joyful together with the outcome. In spite of beating a truly world-class field that included the two-time Olympic gold medallist Angelo Taylor and two-time globe champion Kerron Clement, too as his fierce rival and training partner the European silver medallist Rhys Williams, Greene completed second overall behind the South African Louis Jacob van Zyl.
Crossing the line in 48.24sec just a metre behind Van Zyl, Greene identified it hard to smile even when reminded of the stars he had left behind him.
"It's great but simultaneously I'm not joyful unless I'm winning," mentioned Greene. "That's the mentality I've." Following a sensational 2010 in which the 25-year-old claimed European and Commonwealth titles as well as breaking 48sec for the very first time to improve his personal best to a world-class 47.88sec in Split final September, Greene has set high ambitions for himself this year.
The Llanelli-born hurdler is targeting a gold medal at the globe championships in Daegu this summer as element of an general program to go for gold at London 2012.
Britain's finest female 400m hurdler, Perri Shakes-Drayton, tested out her pace over the flat and came up trumps having a new PB of 51.47sec, finishing in sixth spot against a world-class field. Three-time 200m globe champion Allyson Felix won by a mile in a globe top time of 49.81sec - the first lady to break 50sec this season - crucially leaving the defending 400m world champion Sanya Richards-Ross lagging behind in fifth location.
Felix has announced plans to double up over both distances and challenge her US compatriot for the 400m title which makes the planet championships a scintillating prospect.
Just 45 minutes later within the 200m Felix clearly didn't have enough gas left inside the tank for a second victory, finishing fourth but once more beating Richards-Ross into fifth spot.
But there had been disappointments for a host of Britons competing here. The 1500m globe silver medallist Lisa Dobriskey finished in 10th spot behind Maryam Yusuf Jamal, who won in a new globe leading time of 4mins 01.60sec, plus the extended jumper Shara Proctor - in her debut season in a British vest soon after switching allegiance from Anguilla last year - jumped 6.62m to finish fourth. Inside the men's 800m Michael Rimmer completed 10th.
