Joe Soriano
O.J. Lewis100meter Record Struck by a Lightning Fast Bolt
June 1st 2008 05:28
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is now The World's Fastest Man. . . till June?
100meter Record Struck by a Lightning Fast Bolt
6-foot-4 Jamaican runner Usain Bolt was thought to be too tall to run the 100meters. He concentrated mainly on the 200m and 400m instead. To get some work in he has been running the 100meters as of late. Last month at a meet he ran the world’s second fastest time in the 100m, with a time of 9.76 seconds, just .04 off the record pace.
Fast forward to this Saturday night at the Reebok Grand Prix in Randall’s Island, New York. Tyson Gay, the fastest American, and thought to be the fastest in the field was expected to win. No one expected much from Bolt who was just getting in speed work. They would all quickly be surprised, the key word being quickly. Bolt finished the 100m a shocking .13 ahead of Gay (9.85 seconds), with a time of 9.72. That time beat the old world record of 9.74 seconds which was held by his fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell.
It marked the first time the world record has been broken on American soil since Donovan Bailey posted a 9.84 at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
After the race and his celebration while carrying he Jamaican flag around the track, Bolt commented, "Just coming here, knowing a lot of Jamaicans were here giving me their support, it meant a lot. I just wanted to give them what they wanted."
Gay who had the best view of Bolt’s race said, "He ran a perfect race. I've got to take my hat off to him." Bolt did however have a little help. There was a 1.7 meters-per-second tailwind blowing. If the wind is 2.0meters-p-s a record cannot be set.
Powell should get a chance to get the record back at the end of June when he and Bolt will most likely be racing one another at the Jamaican nationals.
At this time it is unsure just what races Bolt will be running in Beijing this summer. It would be hard to believe if the world record holder did not compete in the 100m while still competing at the games.
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