ID :
204967
Fri, 09/02/2011 - 18:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/204967
The shortlink copeid
Bolt cruises into 200-meter final; U.S. adds two more titles
(Daegu Athletics)
By Yoo Jee-ho
DAEGU, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- There were six gold medal winners at the World Championships in Athletics Friday but the athlete who drew the biggest spotlight was not one of them. He was none other than Usain Bolt who competed in the semifinals of his 200-meter discipline.
Returning from his disqualification from men's 100-meter final last Sunday, the Jamaican cruised into the 200-meter final with what looked like an effortless semi-final run of 20.31 seconds.
Soaked in thunderous cheers from some 40,000 fans at Daegu Stadium, Bolt preened for cameras before his start, and threw his spikes toward the stands in celebration afterward.
Bolt, the world record holder in 200m with 19.19, is trying to win his second straight world title in that distance, and also to redeem himself after the infamous false start in the 100m. As a world record holder coming into form, Bolt had been heavily favored to defend his 100-meter crown.
The Jamaican was the slowest out of the block in his heat on Friday, but he still built a sizeable lead at the halfway point. He all but jogged his way to the finish line.
He insisted he has put the disappointment from his disqualification at the 100-meter final behind and said he would be tough to beat at the 200-meter final Saturday.
"I've worked hard to be on top," Bolt said. "I am getting back in shape at the right time. If I can get a good start and execute right, there's nobody that can beat me."
Aside from Bolt, it was still a pretty good day for Jamaica on the track. Veronica Campbell-Brown took the women's 200-meter at 22.22 seconds in a nailbiting showdown between Jamaica and the U.S.
Carmelita Jeter of the U.S., who won the 100-meter over Campbell-Brown Monday, was second at just 0.15 seconds back. Fellow American Allyson Felix was third, coming up short in her attempt to win her fourth straight 200-meter world title.
Campbell-Brown and Jeter were neck and neck after the turn, before the Jamaican pulled ahead over the final 30 meters for her first 200-meter world championship. She had ended up second in two previous world championships, though she does have two Olympic titles in the event.
"Finally, I got the gold medal," Campbell-Brown said. "My objective was to run the curve as fast as I can and then maintain. I knew I had to run a strong curve."
Jamaican men won the bronze in 4x400-meter relay, behind the U.S. and South Africa. The U.S. team defended its crown, and South Africa, without the amputee Oscar Pistorius, earned the silver.
Pistorius, the first amputee runner to compete at an able-bodied world championships, will also get his medal because he ran in the first round.
Elsewhere on the track, Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot of Kenya became the first double gold medalist in Daegu, adding the women's 5,000-meter title to the 10,000-meter crown she'd won last Saturday.
Cheruiyot won the 5,000 meters at 14 minutes and 55.36 seconds, edging compatriot Sylvia Jebiwott Kibet, who came in 14:56.21.
Though she was nearly 44 seconds off the world record, Cheruiyot said she will still go for in the near future.
"I am incredibly happy to be at this point as a double medalist," Cheruiyot said. "I have only one more race coming up in Zurich (this year). Maybe the world record is possible next year."
In another first, Maria Abakumova of Russia set the first championship record here, taking the women's javelin throw gold at 71.99 meters. The previous championship mark had been 71.90 meters, set by Olisdeilys Menendez of Cuba from the 2005 competition in Helsinki.
German David Storl was the surprise winner in men's shot put. He edged Canadian Dylan Armstrong, 21.78 meters to 21.64 meters.
Armstrong, who once threw 22.21 meters this year, entered as the favorite, but Storl, 21, came out of nowhere to take the lead at 21.60 meters in his second attempt.
After Armstrong charged in front with 21.64 meters in his fourth try, Storl clinched the gold with the best throw of his career in the sixth and final attempt.
Dwight Phillips of the U.S. won the back-to-back men's long jump title at 8.45 meters. After reaching that mark in his second jump, Phillips wasn't threatened much. Mitchell Watt of Australia was the silver medal winner at 8.33.
South Korean triple jumper Kim Deok-hyeon withdrew from the final, after spraining his left foot during his qualification earlier Friday. According to the Korea Association of Athletics Federations (KAAF), Kim wanted to compete in long jump but officials kept him out for precautionary reasons.
He was the first South Korean long jumper to qualify for a world championships final.
Earlier Friday, South Korean athletes were all knocked out of the first round. Kang Na-ru was eliminated from women's hammer throw. Jung Hye-rim couldn't get out of the heats in women's 100-meter hurdles. The women's 4x400-meter relay team set their best time of the season with 3:43.22 but still finished last in their heat.
The U.S. padded its lead with two more gold medals Friday for a total of nine. Kenya and Russia remain four back after winning one gold apiece Friday.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
By Yoo Jee-ho
DAEGU, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- There were six gold medal winners at the World Championships in Athletics Friday but the athlete who drew the biggest spotlight was not one of them. He was none other than Usain Bolt who competed in the semifinals of his 200-meter discipline.
Returning from his disqualification from men's 100-meter final last Sunday, the Jamaican cruised into the 200-meter final with what looked like an effortless semi-final run of 20.31 seconds.
Soaked in thunderous cheers from some 40,000 fans at Daegu Stadium, Bolt preened for cameras before his start, and threw his spikes toward the stands in celebration afterward.
Bolt, the world record holder in 200m with 19.19, is trying to win his second straight world title in that distance, and also to redeem himself after the infamous false start in the 100m. As a world record holder coming into form, Bolt had been heavily favored to defend his 100-meter crown.
The Jamaican was the slowest out of the block in his heat on Friday, but he still built a sizeable lead at the halfway point. He all but jogged his way to the finish line.
He insisted he has put the disappointment from his disqualification at the 100-meter final behind and said he would be tough to beat at the 200-meter final Saturday.
"I've worked hard to be on top," Bolt said. "I am getting back in shape at the right time. If I can get a good start and execute right, there's nobody that can beat me."
Aside from Bolt, it was still a pretty good day for Jamaica on the track. Veronica Campbell-Brown took the women's 200-meter at 22.22 seconds in a nailbiting showdown between Jamaica and the U.S.
Carmelita Jeter of the U.S., who won the 100-meter over Campbell-Brown Monday, was second at just 0.15 seconds back. Fellow American Allyson Felix was third, coming up short in her attempt to win her fourth straight 200-meter world title.
Campbell-Brown and Jeter were neck and neck after the turn, before the Jamaican pulled ahead over the final 30 meters for her first 200-meter world championship. She had ended up second in two previous world championships, though she does have two Olympic titles in the event.
"Finally, I got the gold medal," Campbell-Brown said. "My objective was to run the curve as fast as I can and then maintain. I knew I had to run a strong curve."
Jamaican men won the bronze in 4x400-meter relay, behind the U.S. and South Africa. The U.S. team defended its crown, and South Africa, without the amputee Oscar Pistorius, earned the silver.
Pistorius, the first amputee runner to compete at an able-bodied world championships, will also get his medal because he ran in the first round.
Elsewhere on the track, Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot of Kenya became the first double gold medalist in Daegu, adding the women's 5,000-meter title to the 10,000-meter crown she'd won last Saturday.
Cheruiyot won the 5,000 meters at 14 minutes and 55.36 seconds, edging compatriot Sylvia Jebiwott Kibet, who came in 14:56.21.
Though she was nearly 44 seconds off the world record, Cheruiyot said she will still go for in the near future.
"I am incredibly happy to be at this point as a double medalist," Cheruiyot said. "I have only one more race coming up in Zurich (this year). Maybe the world record is possible next year."
In another first, Maria Abakumova of Russia set the first championship record here, taking the women's javelin throw gold at 71.99 meters. The previous championship mark had been 71.90 meters, set by Olisdeilys Menendez of Cuba from the 2005 competition in Helsinki.
German David Storl was the surprise winner in men's shot put. He edged Canadian Dylan Armstrong, 21.78 meters to 21.64 meters.
Armstrong, who once threw 22.21 meters this year, entered as the favorite, but Storl, 21, came out of nowhere to take the lead at 21.60 meters in his second attempt.
After Armstrong charged in front with 21.64 meters in his fourth try, Storl clinched the gold with the best throw of his career in the sixth and final attempt.
Dwight Phillips of the U.S. won the back-to-back men's long jump title at 8.45 meters. After reaching that mark in his second jump, Phillips wasn't threatened much. Mitchell Watt of Australia was the silver medal winner at 8.33.
South Korean triple jumper Kim Deok-hyeon withdrew from the final, after spraining his left foot during his qualification earlier Friday. According to the Korea Association of Athletics Federations (KAAF), Kim wanted to compete in long jump but officials kept him out for precautionary reasons.
He was the first South Korean long jumper to qualify for a world championships final.
Earlier Friday, South Korean athletes were all knocked out of the first round. Kang Na-ru was eliminated from women's hammer throw. Jung Hye-rim couldn't get out of the heats in women's 100-meter hurdles. The women's 4x400-meter relay team set their best time of the season with 3:43.22 but still finished last in their heat.
The U.S. padded its lead with two more gold medals Friday for a total of nine. Kenya and Russia remain four back after winning one gold apiece Friday.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
