Usain Bolt Retains 200m Crown at Daegu World Championships
In a year when only two runners had previously dipped below the 20-second barrier, the interest level in the men's 200-meter dash leading up to the World Championships was about knee-high.
That all changed when Usain Bolt was disqualified (false start) in the 100-meter finals earlier in the week.
The men's half-lapper suddenly became a spiffied-up focal point for the rest of the week. It would be Bolt's first chance at redemption (the 4x100m relays follow on Sunday).
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The Jamaican sensation left no doubt that the earlier 100m disappointment was simply a fluke.
Even with a cautious start, and running in a tight lane 3, Bolt settled into his patented gallop on the straight for a 19.40 win—fourth fastest in history.
Riding Bolt's slip-stream to a season's best 19.70 for silver was American Walter Dix. Young French phenomenon Christophe Lemaitre lowered his personal best by .36 second to 19.80 (national record) for bronze.
One more runner was pulled along in Bolt's wake to dip under the 20-second mark. Jaysuma Saidy Ndure of Norway was fourth in 19.95.
Which only accentuates one of the many benefits of Bolt's iconic stature: he makes his rivals better.
Though Bolt was clearly the favorite and upheld the odds, there were a couple upsets on the night.
Germany's Matthias De Zordo ( 283') surprised the favored Norwegian, Andreas Thorkildsen, in the men's javelin and Anna Chicherova (RUS) defeated Croatian Blanka Vlasic in the women's high jump (6'-8").
Also the USA women took gold in the 4x400m relay (3:18.09) and Australia's Sally Pearson defied both the WC cover jinx and a trio of American hurdlers to win the 100m hurdles in a new championship and national record 12.28.
Be sure to tune in for tomorrow's finale. It will be a day filled with finals featuring the women's 800-meters and the men's and women's 4x100m relays.
Other finals tomorrow:
Women's Hammer
Men's Triple Jump
Men's 5000-meters
Coverage (Online and TV): details here.
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