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Bolt romps home in 9.85 seconds
published: Sunday | June 29, 2008


Photos by Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
LEFT: Usain Bolt (left) winning the men's National 100 metres title in 9.85 seconds at the National Stadium last night ahead of former champion Asafa Powell (right) who was second in 9.97. Michael Frater (centre) was third in 10.04.
RIGHT: Kerron Stewart (centre) scoring a shock victory in the women's 100 metres final at the National Senior Championships last night at the National Stadium. Stewart won in a personal best 10.80 seconds ahead of Shelly-Ann Frazer (not in photograph), 10.85 and Sherone Simpson (right), 10.87. World champion Veronica Campbell-Brown (left) was fourth in 10.88.

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Usain Bolt was a comfortable winner of the battle of the world's two fastest men at the National Senior Championships last night.

Running before a packed grandstand at the National Stadium, Bolt, who held his nerve after a false start, humbled the strong line-up to win in 9.85 seconds. He was so relaxed he had time to look both sides before easing across the finish line with a broad smile.

"We just went out there to qualify. We got out (fast) because we had to run the first part of the race and this was the interesting part of it ,but the aim was just to qualify," Bolt said after his victory. "We are good friends. I have been telling everyone that it won't be clash here. We just came to qualify for the Olympics and I guess the crowd was a little disappointed with this."

Powell, who said he had accomplished his goal, finished second in 9.97 ahead of MVP Track Club teammate Michael Frater (10.04).

"I went out there to execute the first 50m and I got that, so I am very pleased with how I ran," Powell said.

Shock result

There was a shock result in the women's 100 metres final. World champion Veronica Campbell-Brown is out of an automatic qualifying spot for the Beijing Olympics.

She finished fourth in 10.87 as Kerron Stewart, who had promised a lot from earlier this season, powered to victory in 10.80, a time which made her the second fastest Jamaican woman ever after Merlene Ottey's 10.74 national record.

Shelly-Ann Fraser was second in a personal best 10.85 ahead of Sherone Simpson, 10.87.

In the women's 400m hurdles, Melaine Walker (54.58) defeated Nikeisha Wilson (54.74) and Shevon Stoddart (54.88).

Danny McFarlane, silver medalist at the last Olympic, won the men's event in 48.68, ahead of Isa Phillips (49.08) and Markino Buckley (49.14).

Defending 400m champions Novlene Williams-Mills and Sanjay Ayre, along with former champions Shericka Williams and Ricardo Chambers qualified for tonight's 400m final.

In the women's event, an epic battle is expected between the island's two top runners in Williams-Mills and Williams.

In semi-final one, Williams won in 50.69 ahead of Rose-Marie White (51.26), Moya Thompson (51.47) and Anastasia Le-Roy (51.94). Williams-Mills replied with the day's fastest time, 50.62, which took her home ahead of Shareefa Lloyd (50.84), Bobby Gaye Wilkins with a personal best 50.87 and Kaliese Spencer (51.15) in semi-final two.

In the men's event, Ayre and Chambers, champions in 2007 and 2006 respectively, easily advanced with semi-final victories.

Chambers won a fast semi-final one in 45.33 ahead of Lansford Spance (45.73) and Allodin Fothergill (45.96) while Ayre took semi-final three in 46.22 to finish ahead of Marvin Essor (46.40).

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