Back-to-school shopping came to an abrupt halt yesterday afternoon as patrons gathered at the Girl Guides Association of Jamaica headquarters in St Andrew took a break to watch Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt run a scintillating 9.58 in the men's 100-metre finals in Berlin.

Though they were there for the annual Back-to-School Trade Fair 2009, the hundreds present could not escape the track and field fever sweeping the island.

There were large groups huddled around several television sets mounted inside the auditorium, as both the young and old struggled to catch a glimpse of the action taking place at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics 2009.

"Jamaicans love athletics. We can't deny that," proclaimed Dwayne Murray, just moments before Bolt and compatriot Asafa Powell took to the track.

And when it became clear that it was a gold medal and new world record for showman Bolt and a bronze for Powell, the crowd broke out in chorus, fervently singing the national anthem.

"Bolt nuh normal, him a legend!" shouted one woman, who had lost her shoes in the euphoria.

"Mi cyaah find mi slippers, but mi nuh care. Mi will walk home barefoot today because Bolt make mi happy and Asafa make mi proud," she exclaimed.

The predictions for today's finals in the women's 100-metre race also began flooding in, with most individuals forecasting a 1-2-3 finish for Jamaica.

"Without a doubt, Kerron Stewart will bring home the gold. Veronica Campbell, silver, and Shelly-Ann Fraser, bronze," Dillon Facey told The Gleaner.

Desmond Pinnock also agreed that Jamaica would accomplish a sweep in the women's event, similar to what they did in Beijing last year. He, however, predicted that Veronica Campbell-Brown would claim gold, with Stewart and Fraser finishing second and third, respectively.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com