London test for Bolt

by

July 22, 2016

Photo

@Normal:Usain Bolt sprints while undergoing his training routine at the newly laid London Marathon Community Track in London on Wednesday.

LONDON, England:

There have been many questions about Jamaican superstar sprinter Usain Bolt since he had to end his participation in Jamaica's Olympic trials due to injury at the beginning of the month.

Those surround his fitness, and for the second straight year, Bolt is in London to provide some answers and show that he is still the best.

The six-time Olympic champion returns to the London Olympic Stadium today, where he will line up in the men's 200m at the two-day Muller Anniversary Games the 10th stop in the International Association of Athletics Federations Diamond League series.

"I'm really excited about this. It's my final Olympics. It's a big one and I really want to make a big mark. Yes, there was a slight setback, but the good thing is that I started off my season very well and got a few good races, in so it's not as bad as it was last season," he said.

Those 'good races' included a 9.88 run at the Racers Grand Prix in June, this after a terrible start and an easy finish.

Before he gets there, today's 'test' his first 200m race since winning gold at the World Championships last year will have fellow Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade, Christophe Lemaitre, and Alonso Edward among its cast.

As eager as those are, Bolt is sure to get an honest challenge for much of this contest, and if his final training session on Wednesday evening was anything to go by, something in the high 19.8s or low 19.9s region is certainly on the cards here.

Quarter-miler Stephenie-Ann McPherson is in the best form we've seen from her all season after registering three consecutive sub-51 second runs for the first time all year. She will also be in action on the opening day of competition with Rio gold medal prospect Shaunae Miller from The Bahamas, Americans Natasha Hastings and Francena McCorory, as well as local favourite Christine Ohuruogu. McPherson won her last Diamond League assignment in Oslo on June 9, and has not finished behind anybody since then.

Everton Clarke, Michael Frater, and Julian Forte will feature in the men's 100m.

Tomorrow's action will feature Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the 100m with Olympic-bound youngster Christania Williams, Remona Burchell and the in-form Simone Facey, with Damar Forbes (long jump), Aisha Praught (3000m steeplechase), O'Dayne Richards (shot put), and Chanice Porter (long jump) set to compete.