Gay clocks stunning 100m in China

Tyson Gay equalled the second fastest time ever over 100m with 9.69 seconds at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix.

The American has struggled with a groin injury of late but still won a Worlds silver medal behind Usain Bolt.

At China's end-of-season meet, Gay, 27, equalled the world record Bolt set when he won Olympic gold last year before he reduced it to 9.58 secs in Berlin.

American Carmelita Jeter ran 10.64 secs to overtake Marion Jones as the world's second fastest woman over 100m.

Only the late Florence Griffith-Joyner has run faster having run 10.49s.

Gay, who has been suffering from a strained groin and is set to have an operation, admitted at the start of the month he had been "running on one leg".

After running the third-fastest 100m in history, 9.71, at the World Championships, where he had to pull out of the 200m, Gay beat Jamaican Asafa Powell by 0.16s in China with American Darvis Patton in third (9.89).

Gay revealed afterwards he intends to challenge Bolt's world record when he returns to full fitness.

"I'm not too motivated because I've not been fully healthy," he said. "I ran my run so well, even though my groin hurts."

The Chinese crowd saved their biggest cheer for former world and Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang as he returned to action for the first time since limping out of the Beijing Bird's Nest last year.

"Being back on the track is a pivotal step for me," Liu said ahead of the 110m hurdles race.

The 26-year-old 2004 Olympic gold medallist had an operation in the United States in December to repair the Achilles tendon that forced his agonising Olympic withdrawal during qualifying.

However, the local superstar was pipped on the line by American Terrence Trammell with both men clocking 13.15s.

"I didn't expect I could run so fast, but once I stepped on the track I could not hold back," Liu said.

Meanwhile, Russian Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva failed in three attempts to improve her own pole vault world record of 5.06m.

There were other victories for Wallace Spearmon in the 200m, while Britain's Rob Tobin impressed in second place behind Lashawn Merritt in the 400m.

Weary Bolt looking forward to some rest

He swayed to the music of "Zorba the Greek" before his race, and afterward took time to sign autographs for a swarm of children at Kaftanzoglio stadium.

Now that his record-breaking season is over, Usain Bolt said yesterday he has one remaining priority: "Sleep!"

The Jamaican is looking forward to six weeks of quiet after he flies home to Jamaica today - following a season that saw the 23-year-old smash his own 100 and 200-metre records at the world championships last month.

Yesterday, Bolt added another easy win at the World Athletics Final, taking the 200 in 19.68 seconds. Wallace Spearmon of the United States was second in 20.21, and Brendan Christian of Antigua third in 20.65.

"I was running on fumes. That was the last race this year. ... It was the last energy I had," Bolt said. "I'm just happy the season is over ... I was really tired. Hopefully I'll get lots of rest. I'm not looking forward to any one thing. I just want to go home."

In Greece, Bolt skipped the 100 race on Saturday, but still did his best to be a crowd-pleaser. He visited a local school and ran onto the track at Kaftanzoglio Saturday just to make an appearance.

This week, he pulled out of meets in China and South Korea because of fatigue, stretching his break to six weeks.

"I usually get a month, so six weeks is even better," he said. "When you run 10 and a half months out of 12 months, you don't really miss running. ... When it's coming close to a race you think, 'Ah, here we go again."'

Instead of training, Bolt said he's hoping to enjoy doing ordinary things.

"I'm looking forward to playing video games, going to the club, that's pretty much it," he said. "I'm the kind of guy who stays home, plays music and chills out."

Eric Murphy returns for Tobago Classic

Former three-time runner-up Eric Murphy is coming back to Tobago for the 2009 edition of the Tobago International Cycling Classic.

Murphy, who suffered a serious crash in the 2005 edition of the race, will again team up with local favourite and seven-time winner Emile Abraham.

Both will ride for Team BarCode in Division One. Also scheduled to ride for BarCode are Englishmen Pete Williams and James Sampson and Canadians  Danille Defrancheschi and Jean-Michel Lachance.

So far, eight other teams from Europe and the Caribbean have registered for the five-stage race which will be contested from September 30 to October 4. However, not yet certain to take part is last year's winner, Keith Blackgrove of New Zealand.

In addition to the international race, there will again be competition  in the juniors, masters and ladies categories.

Following are the confirmed riders and teams  in Division One:

Team Racing Students (Germany)- Christoph Kindle, Andreas Feistel, Michael Schweizer, Florian Geyer, Valentin Holtz, Benjamin Diemer, Jonathan Obländer.

Team SVL Sportassekuranz (Sweden)- Karsten Gerhard, Karsten Eggert, Jan Van Puifelde, Jorg Scherf, Axel Hauschke, Sebastien Mensebach.

 Austrian National Team (Austria)- Werner Riebenbauer, Franz Grasmann, Andreas Graf, Georg Tazreiter, Andreas Muller, Christian Lademann.

Team Saxony (Germany)-Erik Mohs, Sasha Damrow, Julian Rammler, Timo Scholz, Roland Wenz.Â

Team BarCode (Composite lnternational)-Emile Abraham- Trinidad and Tobago, Eric Murphy-US, Pete Williams-England, James Sampson-England, Danille Defrancheschi-Canada, Jean-Michel Lachance - Canada.

 Windward Islands (Caribbean)-Tyron Thomas-Grenada, Sydney-Grenada, Kurt Maraj-St Lucia, Sammy Joseph-St Lucia, Sydney Charles-St Lucia, Winston Williams-St Lucia.

Team Heatwave (Caribbean)-Guy Costa-Trinidad and Tobago, Marloe Rodman -Jamaica, Jude Bentley- Guyana, Steve McEwen- Scotland, Atze Dijkhuis- Holland.

 Team Trek (Caribbean)-Colin Wilson- Trinidad and Tobago, Linford Blackwood -Jamaica, Dean Martin- Jamaica, Oneil Samuel- Jamaica, Phillip Clarke- Barbados, Jason Perryman-Barbados.

Team Foundation (USA)-Joshua Alexander-Trinidad and Tobago, Adam Alexander-Trinidad and Tobago.

Humans can't run 100m faster than 9.2 sec, claims expert

Usain Bolt believes he can race past the 100 m sprint finish line in 9.4 seconds, and experts seem to agree with him. However, if the Bolt time limit is compressed to 9.2-second mark, analysts cast doubts.

Raphael Brandon, of the English Institute of Sport, believes the 6 feet 5 inches tall Bolt can inspire athletes of a similar built on the track, which would further bring down the time for the finish.

However, he points out that running faster means sprinters have to have their feet on the ground for a certain time in order to generate the speed.

The BBC quoted Brandon as saying: "I think there will come a point where to run any faster you will have to spend so little time on the ground that you won't actually be able to generate the speed."

Brandon thinks its unlikely someone would get past the 9.2 seconds barrier, but also confesses that such limits had been drawn in the past only to have been broken.

Nelson's beauty silences August Town

A sterling strike from Roen 'Bumpy' Nelson in time added on, guided last season's runners-up Portmore United to a fighting 1-0 win over Digicel Premier League returnees, August Town, at the University of the West Indies Bowl, Mona, yesterday.

Coming on as a second-half substitute in front of a stands-full opening day crowd at the picturesque venue, Nelson, who was dethroned of the leading goalscorer title last season after a half-season campaign due overseas club committments, collected the ball atop of the penalty box and in one motion, fired a cannon of shot into the base of the goal.

Fans shocked

The strike, which actually took place in the 93rd minute, moments after outstanding referee Raymond Bogle had signalled three minutes of extra time, brought silence to the otherwise noisy venue, as home fans shocked by the concession strolled out of the venue in disbelief.

"It doesn't matter if I start or come off the bench, I am a team player. The coach told me to go out there and get the winner and that's what I did," said a content-looking Nelson, who was dethroned of the goalscoring title last season by Rivoli United's Devon Hodges.

"Last season, I didn't get to play the whole season because of my contract overseas, but this season I hope to and regain the leading goalscorer (title)," he added.

The goal came at the end of a series of substitutions by Portmore coach, Linval Dixon, and August Town coach, Calvert Fitzgerald, who utilised their full complement of changes in a bid to get a desired result.

Portmore, in a bid to seek the clincher, brought on strikers Nelson, Steven Morrisey and midfielder Tremaine Stewart, while August Town, in counter move, brought on Josemar Campbell and Aphas Bernard in defence.

"We matched them for the 90 minutes. We were just unlucky. We lapsed in the final minute and Nelson, who is a very good striker, made us pay. But we did well and will rebound," said Fitzgerald.

Cornwall retain coveted title

Cornwall College retained the Jackson Shield, symbol of football supre-macy between themselves and old rivals Munro College when the two-game clash between the teams ended in a 2-2 deadlock at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay on Saturday.

In the opening game between the daCosta Cup teams, Munro looked much sharper and deservingly emerged with a 1-0 win. In the Over-35 contest, Cornwall dominated but could only manage a 2-1 win.

However, that was enough to give them and 2-2 aggregate score and the prized title.

"After the daCosta Cup team lost we knew that we had to win to retain the title and we did just that," said former national goalkeeper Warren Barrett who had a good game for the Cornwall oldsters.

"It was yet another Jackson Shield which was played in good spirits and we had a lot of fun out there."

Curtain-raiser

In the curtain-raiser, which saw both teams advertising the talent which they will have on show in this year's daCosta Cup, the Hopeton Gilchrist-conditioned Munro looked quite good, and while the Steve Bucknor-coached Cornwall aggregation managed to create a few chances, they looked sluggish at best.

Munro got their all-important goal five minutes into the game when Rajiv Service took a ball just below the half line and, after evading several defenders in a smart dribble, turned neatly in the penalty area and drove a left-footed grounder past the Cornwall custodian, making the score 1-0.

"This result is special because it means that I have not lost to Cornwall College in my three years here at Munro College," said Gilchrist who once served a stint as assistant coach at Cornwall, which is his alma mater.

He added: "This game was quite important in concluding my daCosta Cup preparations."

In the Over-35 game, the star-studded Cornwall quickly took control and, after a mere five minutes of action, they took the lead. Troy Campbell powered his way through the Munro defence and cracked a savage shot into the roof of the net, making the score 1-0.

With the likes of Dr Dean Weatherly and Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Vice-President Dale Spencer seeking to do damage control for Munro, Cornwall struck yet again towards the end of the first half. Orville Mushington won possession of the ball some 30 yards from goal and his fierce shot left the goalkeeper a mere spectator, making the half-time score 2-0.

In the second half, Cornwall showed more inclination towards having fun than hunting goals. However, it was Munro's Dr Weatherley who had the crowd going wild. His deft dribbles, sharp turns and the ease with which he regularly knocked the ball between the legs of opponents drew much laughter.

With time running out in the game, Munro finally managed to breach the Cornwall defence. Peter Lee went high for a cross and his glancing header rolled into the goal, making the final score 2-1.

Another 100m sweep - Fraser, Powell land marquee events at Rieti meet

Jamaicans Shelly-Ann Fraser and Asafa Powell won the 100-metre events and headlined a whopping six Caribbean victories at the IAAF Rieti International track and field meeting yesterday.

Olympic and world champion Fraser won the women's race, clocking in 11.18 seconds into a stiff headwind of 2.4 metres per second and Powell encountered minus 1.5 metres per second wind in landing the men's race in 9.99 seconds.

Windy conditions prevailed and slowed times were recorded throughout the meet, which saw in-form Jamaicans Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Dwight Thomas claim victories in the sprint hurdles, while their teammate Kerron Stewart captured the women's 200 metres and Bahamian Leevan Sands landed the men's triple jump title.

Beaten by American Carmelita Jeter at the Brussels Golden League meeting on Friday, Fraser rebounded quickly with a fine front-running victory, coming home well clear of fellow Jamaican Sherone Simpson (11.37).

Strong headwind

Fraser admitted she was hindered by the wind.

"I was not getting the technique properly today. I really felt the headwind," she said.

Powell, on the track where he set his last world record (9.74) in 2007, was also strong as he easily repelled fellow Jamaican Nesta Carter (10.08) to repeat as 100-metre champion here, going under the 10-second barrier for the 57th time in his career.

"It was a very strong wind," Powell said. "When I felt the wind blowing today I was like, 'It's not going to be a fast race'."

No runner in history has more sub-10 clockings than Powell, who admitted after the race that he is motivated to restore his top billing after giving way to phenomenal world-record holder Usain Bolt, his Jamaican teammate.

"To be running these fast times is outstanding. He (Bolt) really needs some strong competition, he's running 9.5, so we need to get there too to put on a good show," Powell said. "Before, I was the man to beat. Now I have someone in front of me, so I really have to push myself."

Powell wouldn't commit to running at next year's Commonwealth Games in India.

"We're not sure about all the plan for next year but I'm always looking forward to run," said Powell, who will now return to his in-season training base in northern Italy to prepare for the season finals in Greece.

Britain's Simeon Williamson was third in 10.18 seconds and Jamaican Michael Frater, a World Championship sprint relay gold medallist - with Powell, Bolt and Steve Mullings last month in Berlin - was fifth in 10.30.

Olympic and World Championship medallist Stewart received a late-race test from Jamaican 400-metre specialist Shericka Williams, but was stronger at the finish for a 22.62 win against a 2.0 mps wind.

Williams (22.69) was just a step behind in second and the Jamaica-born American Debbie Dunn was third in 22.73.

Cydonie Mothersill of the Cayman Islands was fifth in 22.98.

Controlled win

Undefeated since her fabulous gold medal success at the Berlin World Championship last month, veteran Foster-Hylton posted a controlled win in the 100-metre hurdles in 12.78 seconds in a Jamaican one-two finish, Nickeisha Wilson chasing her to the line in 12.84 seconds against 2.5 mps wind.

Jamaica's former Commonwealth Games champion Lacena Golding-Clarke was fourth in 13.22.

In the 110-metre hurdles, Thomas clocked 13.36 to win ahead of Commonwealth Games champion Maurice Wignall (13.48) in another Jamaican sweep of the top two spots.

Olympic bronze medallist Sands emerged with the triple jump crown at 16.77 metres, defeating Frenchman David Girat (16.67m). Grenada's Randy Lewis was fifth at 16.53 metres.

The 19-year-old Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade clocked 20.54 seconds for the runner-up spot in the men's 200 behind American Wallace Spearmon (20.27), with Antiguan Pan American Games champion Brendan Christian third in 20.57 seconds.

Lightning Bolt strikes 200m gold in record time

Usain Bolt set a World record of 19.19 seconds on Thursday to add the World championship title in the 200 metres to his gold in the 100m.

Exactly one year after taking gold at the Beijing Games with a record of 19.30, Bolt had an even greater run. Like the record in the 100m on Sunday, he shaved .11 seconds off his previous mark.

Alonso Edward of Panama was second, a massive .62 seconds behind. Wallace Spearmon of the United States took bronze.

“I never expected a World record tonight,” said Bolt. “I was really tired but I told myself I had to just try and do my best - now I am tired. I was too upright. It wasn’t a good race, but it was a fast one.”

Dravid must make his return relevant

Considering last week's events, diehard romantics of Indian cricket might be excused in believing that they were watching a rerun of an old blockbuster instead of a new film for a new season.

Sourav Ganguly and John Wright, it is being widely speculated, will team up again as captain and coach -- albeit for Kolkata Knight Riders -- and Rahul Dravid finds himself back in the one-day squad.

Of these, Dravid's return is obviously the more significant, but in some ways also the moresurprising. For almost two years, the formerIndia captain has not even been within miles of being in the one-day team; just when he would have decided to consign the blue uniform to the attic, Messrs Srikkanth & Co have asked him to revise his calling card.

From every available indication, Dravid's return is not based on compassion. There has been undisguised concern within the administration (and which has also spilled over to fans) over Team India's recent results: a quick exit from the World T20 and a huff 'n' puff victory over the West Indies. This could have compelled the selectors to plump for experience to steady the boat.

Hacking youngsters in favour of a senior statesman when the stated policy had been to build a young side for the next World Cup is contentious (some might argue retrograde), but the precious Rohit Sharma has sadly muffed up far too many opportunities to retain the faith of even his supporters.

It is no secret that MS Dhoni has not been enamoured of Dravid being in the limited overs sides, but the past three months have not been particularly kind to him as captain. Several young batsmen have proved inconsistent or technically inept and with Viru Sehwag still injured, he might be fortunate that someone with vast experience is still around.

Indeed, Dravid's fantastic ODI record could provide relief to Dhoni. With 10,585 runs to his name (the third highest aggregate by any Indian) and an average just short of 40, he has been a class act. However his strike rate is a none-too-daunting 71.22, and while this includes scores of matches where he played the pivot to the strokeplayers, Dravid has to improve this rate substantially to make his return relevant.
***
Like all lovers of Test cricket, I have been delighted by the Ashes contest which reaches its climax this week. What has intrigued me, however, is the hostile reception Ricky Ponting has received from the crowds at most grounds.

There must be something about the Australian captain's personality (it can't be his batting surely) which people other than just Harbhajan Singh and Sunil Gavaskar also find irksome. Among post-War Australian captains the English have loved to hate, Ponting now stands alongside Ian Chappell.

In the all-time list of most disliked captain from either side in an Ashes contest, however, Douglas Jardine remains unmatched.

The story goes that during the controversial 1932-33 series, the England captain was waving flies away from his face on a hot, humid day when a voice boomed across the stadium, "Hey Jardine, let them be, they are your only friends in Australia." Ponting, all said and done, has more.

And finally, cricket's big sacrifice has not been in vain. By all accounts, Usain Bolt was a promising fast bowler in his school days in Jamaica, till he was weaned away into athletics.

Would Bolt have been in the same class as, say Mike Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose et al? Perhaps even better, but perish the thought. Who then would have run the 100m in 9.58 sec and redefined the limits of human achievement?

Usain Bolt clone emerges in Jamaica

Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt may have set the race tracks around the world on fire with his record breaking feats, the latest being three golds at the World Championships in Berlin, Germany, but there is a replica in the making back home.

The Jamaican Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) has zeroed in on 13-year-old Shawn Salmon, who also hails from Bolt's hometown Trelawny.

According to the Sunday Express, Samon possesses the same steely determination and muscular build that top sprinters need.

But the comparison doesn't stop there. He also holds the 100 metres record at Bolt's old school, Waldensia All-age in Trelawny, and he is in the sprint team at William Knibb Memorial High School, where Bolt was also a pupil, under the watchful eye of his old coach Dwayne Jarrett.

Like his hero, Shawn also competes in both the 100 metres and 200 metres events.
"Shawn has got great potential and there are a lot of similarities to Usain when he was his age," said a member of staff at William Knibb.

Shawn admitted he hopes to emulate his hero one day. "He is my idol and I want to be just like him when I grow up," he said.

"I believe if I train hard, one day I will be able to run at the Olympic Games," he added.
The high school has a great track record in athletic success. Apart from Bolt, Olympic sprinter Michael Green is also a former pupil. Such has been Jamaica's success that it is being called the Isle of Might.

A memorable Olympics

It was to be China’s time to shine, a year of celebrations with the Olympic spirit touching the hearts and minds of one-fifth of the world’s population as the Olympics headed to Beijing.

Instead, months before the August 8-24 Games, human rights groups disrupted the globally televised torch-lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia, setting off a chain of worldwide protests.

From Paris and London to San Francisco and Seoul, the Beijing Olympics torch relay became a target for human rights protesters as it meandered across the globe.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) faced mounting criticism and bad press for its decision to award the Games to China, given the country’s human rights record. “We are not an activist organisation,” IOC chief Jacques Rogge said, defending the decision and saying the Games would bring change to China.

The word “boycott” crept into discussions months before the Games but in the end none materialised. Even Iraq, temporarily suspended weeks before the Olympics, managed to send athletes to China. By the time the Olympics started with a record 204 teams from around the world parading in the spectacular Bird’s Nest stadium, both local organisers and the IOC were under intense media scrutiny.

Internet restrictions for foreign media, pro-Tibet protests and Beijing’s air quality grabbed the headlines in the days running up to the Games. However, the dazzling opening ceremony showcasing the might of modern China, which invested an estimated $40 billion to prepare for the Games, set the stage for memorable performances in breathtaking venues.

US swimmer Michael Phelps won a record eight gold medals while Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt captured the 100 and 200 metres sprint double as well as a 4x100m relay gold in world record-breaking time.

Defending Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion Liu Xiang added drama when he hobbled off the track minutes before his first heat, stunning a capacity Bird’s Nest crowd. Team China, though, were unstoppable, topping the medals table with 51 golds, leaving the United States second with 36. Russia were third and Britain fourth .

The IOC saw record television audiences in most major markets and used the YouTube video-sharing website to post Olympic footage online, recording more than 16.5 million hits and unlocking the potential of new media to attract younger viewers. The opening ceremony alone was seen by 1.2 billion people around the world.

Doping concerns led to extensive pre-Games testing by federations and Olympic teams which rooted out some 50 cheats. An additional 5,000 tests were conducted during the Games, nabbing nine athletes, but the Games were spared the embarrassment and unwanted distraction of a major doping scandal.

The spotlight quickly switched to the 2012 Summer Games after the Beijing closing ceremony, with the British capital already struggling with its biggest project, the one-billion-pound Olympic village.

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt eyes world record domination

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt believes he can significantly lower his world records for the 100m and 200m.

Bolt clocked 9.69 seconds in the 100m in Beijing and then broke Michael Johnson's world record of 19.32 in the 200m final by lowering it to 19.30.

Asked how fast he thought he could run 100m, Bolt said: "Perhaps 9.52 seconds, but I must make progress in different areas, especially at the start."

Bolt's coach Glenn Mills is hopeful he can go under 19 seconds in the 200m.

"I believe, based on what he did in Beijing, given similar conditions, if he runs the 200m at a time when he is fresh, we are hoping that we can get under the 19 seconds barrier," Mills said.

"We are also hoping to take the 100m to somewhere where it will stay for a good while."

In winning the 100m, Bolt significantly slowed down as he approached the finishing line and Norwegian physicist Hans Eriksen has estimated the Jamaican could have run 9.55 seconds if he had finished at full pace.

Last week in the Journal of Experimental Biology, Stanford University biology professor Mark Denny concluded male sprinters could get the 100m record down to 9.48 and the 200m down to 18.63.

As well as his 100m and 200m wins in Beijing, the 22-year-old Bolt led Jamaica's 4x100m sprint relay to Olympic victory in a record time of 37.10.