Monday, April 12, 2004

Ja: Usain Bolt, youth-man to watch

JAMAICA'S USAIN Bolt clocked an amazing 19.93 seconds to win the Boys' Under-20 200 metres final in a World Junior record at the National Sports Centre in Hamilton, Bermuda, yesterday.

Bolt's run capped a traditionally brilliant display for the Jamaicans, who secured a record 79 medals to bring the curtains down on the 33rd CARIFTA Games.

In smashing the 200 metres World Junior record, the 17-year-old Bolt became the youngest athlete ever to record a sub-20 clocking.

Only one Jamaican had ever broken the 20-second barrier, 1976 Olympic gold medallist Donald Quarrie, whose national record of 19.86 seconds has stood the test of time.

In the process, the teenaged sprint sensation, nicknamed 'Lightning Bolt', lowered his previous best of 20.13 ­ the former world junior record he held with American Roy Martin.

The effort is the fastest by any athlete this year, surpassing American Justin Gatlin's (20.21). It is also the first sub-20 second clocking by any athlete since Germany's Kederis Konstadinos ran 19.85 in Munich, Germany, on August 9, 2002.
Congratulations to Lightning Bolt! Along with all Jamaica, I'll be looking forward to seeing Lightning win gold at the next Olympics.

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