Bolt trots 19.76 for debut Diamond League victory

SHANGHAI, China, CMC – Usain Bolt marked his debut in the IAAF Diamond League yesterday, with another comfortable victory in the men’s 200 metres at the Olympic Football Stadium here.

The Jamaica sprint sensation jogged to a new meet record of 19.76 seconds, pulling away from the field in the final 60 metres, after coming into the home straight with a conservative lead of no more than five metres.

“It was good, but it was kind of windy,” said Bolt said. “It was a good run, the feeling was good, but it was not easy. I am not in the best shape, but I enjoyed it, and I look forward to the next race.

“I really wanted a good time because I do not come to China very often. Coming out of the curve, I was smiling, and I thought, ‘Oh my goodness!’.” He added: “I was surprised to see a lot of Jamaicans here, but it was good. I love them. Wherever I go, it would not be the same without them.”

Bolt crossed the line in relaxed fashion, but his time was still two tenths-of-a-second slower than his run at the Jamaica Invitational meet earlier this month.
Angelo Taylor, the double Olympic 400m hurdles champion from the United States, took second place in a personal best of 20.34 secs, with another American Ryan Bailey third in 20.43.

Marvin Anderson, another Jamaican, finished fourth in a personal season’s best time of 20.48, and Churandy Martina of the Netherlands Antilles, who was denied an Olympic silver behind Bolt two years ago in the Chinese city of Beijing for running outside his lane, was fifth in 20.95.