Bolt beats Gatlin for fourth world 200m gold

Beijing, August 27

Usain Bolt delivered when it mattered again on Thursday when he scorched the fastest time of the year to win a record fourth straight world 200m title in 19.55 seconds and sweep the individual sprints at a global championships for a fifth time. 

Five days after beating Justin Gatlin to win the 100 metres, the 29-year-old Olympics champion and world record holder again proved too strong for in-form American, who finished second in 19.74. “Well done Usain,” Bolt told reporters. “I am just happy, I told you guys I would do it. There was no doubt. I was not really focused on time. I knew I was not in the shape for a world record.” Bolt, who had run only one race at the distance coming into the championships after an injury-disrupted season, was in control from the start.

The 29-year-old got out of the blocks quicker than the usually explosive Gatlin on his inside and was ahead halfway round the bend before the American picked up speed and briefly looked like he might threaten the champion. Puffing his cheeks out and swinging his arms high, though, Bolt pulled away down the home straight for an ultimately comfortable victory, thumping his chest with his fists as he crossed the line. “When it comes to the 200m, I am a different person,” Bolt said. “My four World Championships gold medals in the 200m, this a big deal, a great accomplishment.” The victory gave Bolt a record-extending 10th World Championships gold medal and he could yet win an 11th as part of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team on Saturday.

Anasco Jobodwana took bronze in 19.87s for South Africa. Bolt and Gatlin had faced each other only once before in a 200m race, at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki where the American claimed his first world title in the event and teenager Bolt finished last. That was the year before Gatlin, having just matched the 100m world record, tested positive for a banned substance for a second time and was suspended for four years. Gatlin, 33, had gone unbeaten since 2013 in both sprints coming to Beijing and his was the world leading time that Bolt bettered to take the title. “I’m the oldest man in the field and still running, running pretty well,” said Gatlin. “It feels good to go against him (Bolt). I’m just going to prepare myself for next year, for the Olympics and come out even stronger.”

Taylor takes triple-jump gold with big leap

American Christian Taylor produced the second-longest triple jump in history as he soared 18.21m to take gold. Taylor and Cuba’s Pedro Pichardo came to Beijing having between them produced the 10 best marks of 2015, with the Cuban leading the way with 18.08m. Taylor delivered the coup de grace with his sixth and final jump, landing just short of the 18.29m world record that has stood to Britain’s Jonathan Edwards since the 1995 World Championships.

Jumping last, Pichardo too had his best jump in the sixth round but his silver medal-winning 17.73 seemed modest compared to what the packed stadium had just witnessed. The bronze medal was also won by a last-round jump as Nelson Evora of Portugal, the Olympic gold medallist in the Bird’s Nest Stadium seven years ago, cleared 17.52 to snatch third place from Omar Craddock, the American who had moved into medal positions with a 17.37 effort in the penultimate round. 

Felix wins women’s 400m gold

Allyson Felix of the United States won her ninth World Championships gold medal and first at 400m with a dominating performance.  The Olympics 200m champion set off by far the quickest of the eight women finalists to hold a commanding lead by 150m. Felix’s 49.26s winning time was the fastest in the world this year while Miller claimed silver in 49.67s. — Agencies

Gowda in finals 

Vikas Gowda qualified for the final round of the men’s discus throw event with a modest effort of 63.86m on the sixth day. Gowda finished fourth in Group A qualification round to make the finals to be held on Saturday. His effort put him at seventh rank among those who have qualified for the final. The 32-year-old United States-based Indian, whose national record stands at 66.28m, achieved his best mark of the day on his first attempt itself and then hurled the disc to 63.84m before fouling his third and last qualification round throw.