Approximately ten minutes before the men’s 100m finals at the 14th staging of the IAAF World Championships the skies above the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow Russia opened up to create a slick running surface.
Approximately ten minutes before the men’s 100m finals at the 14th staging of the IAAF World Championships the skies above the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow Russia opened up to create a slick running surface.
Four Jamaicans were about to face the starter, an unprecedented feat by any country in the event and the main protagonist was none other than the legendary Usain Bolt, a man driven by the desire to regain his world title after losing it to a false start two years ago in Degu, South Korea. His compatriot and training partner, Yohan Blake went on to capture gold that day and as fate would have it, has been unable to defend his title due to injury.
The other three Jamaicans were seasoned campaigner Nesta Carter, Nickel Ashmeide and first timer Kemar Bailey-Cole. The main spoiler in the race was the former world champion, Justin Gatlin of the USA.
By the time the starter got the eight men under orders they were totally drenched by the rain, but none of them seemed to notice the elements when the gun fired.
Gatlin was the quickest to react, out of his blocks like a bullet, he immediately took control of the race and led for about 40 meters. But Bolt was not going to be denied, he chased down the American and overtook him with consummate ease before powering to the line, stopping the clock at 9.77. Gatlin crossed the line in 9.85 for second place to claim a deserved silver.
The winner of the bronze medal, Nesta Carter who ran 9.95, will not be envied by anyone. He has served Jamaica’s track and field for years without ever claiming an individual medal, despite being part of record breaking relay teams. He was in mid-pack for most of the race before powering past fellow Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade to claim the last of the bounty.
Ashmeade was also overtaken by a fast finishing but slow starting Bailey-Cole as the Jamaicans claimed 1-3-4-5 in a historic race on a wet night in Moscow. Bailey-Cole and Ashmeade were both timed in 9.98.
It wasn’t a particularly fast time by his lofty standards, but Usain Bolt had completed part one of his Gold medal hunt. Next on his agenda will be the 200m and then the 4x100m. Very few people will bet against him leaving without all that he came to the Luzhniki for.
Speaking after his win Bolt said: “I’m happy. I came with one aim – to regain my title, and I did that so it’s good.”
“I get my joy from making my own goals and I continue to make new ones. That’s what keeps me going. I’m not acting. That’s my personality. It’s fun. Actually, from the semis I didn’t feel 100 per cent, my legs felt sore. But I was never worried.”
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