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Jamaica's Usain Bolt doing some of the latest local dance moves after his sizzling last leg yesterday pushed Jamaica to a world record 37.04 seconds in the men's 4x100 metres final on the final day of the 13th IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. - Ricardo Makyn
DAEGU, South Korea, CMC:
World sprint king Usain Bolt scripted an impressive redemption story on Saturday, running the fourth fastest 200 metres of all time to regain his World Championships title.
The 25-year-old from Jamaica gave empirical evidence that he had brushed aside his false start disqualification in last Sunday's 100 final, running away from his rivals in a time of 19.40 seconds - a time that has been surpassed only three times - and twice by him.
"I feel great," he said. "I wasn't running angry, I was running hard just to say to fans sorry about the 100.
"I came out here to do my best and prove to them. At the start I did not panic."
Coming off the turn with a marginal lead, Bolt blasted away from the field when the race entered the homestretch, and never relented until he crossed the line.
Fortune favoured the chasing pack, with lifetime bests for American Walter Dix (19.70) and Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre (19.80) securing the pair silver and bronze medals respectively.
But Nickel Ashmeade, another Jamaican, finished fifth in a time of 20.29, and Trinidad & Tobago's Rondell Sorillo clocked 20.34 to bring up the rear.
"19.40 for me is a good time," said Bolt. "I am not in my best shape, but it is all about fun and enjoyment. I am happy with my time and I look forward to the last two races of the season.
"It is good to run a good 200. It is my favourite event. Fans will decide if I made it up to them. To the spectators - you have been a fantastic support!"
Bolt was the raging hot favourite to retain his World 100 title, but fellow Jamaican and training partner Yohan Blake grabbed the top spot, following the megastar's shock disqualification in last Sunday's final.
Jamaica also collected a silver medal, when their 4x400 metres women's relay squad clocked a new national record time of three minutes, 18.09 seconds, finishing runners-up to the United States, whose 3 mins, 18.09 secs was a World-leading time for the year.
The Jamaican squad comprised Rosemarie Whyte, Davita Prendergast, Novlene Williams-Mills, and Shericka Williams, who came under pressure from newly minted World 400 bronze medallist Anastasiya Kapachinskaya on the final lap, but ran strongly to grab the medal.
"I want to thank God and the girls for such a great time," said Williams. "For the past four championships I have attended, we have always got a medal in this relay. We wanted to keep that tradition. The race is not over until it's over.
"I felt the Russian girl on my shoulder. I didn't panic. I just carried on, and she didn't pass me. It feels great to break the national record. It is an incredible feeling."
