BERLIN, Germany

'Project Bolt' flopped. The 'Doc' had no remedy. An American record fizzled into being only that.

Nothing and no one was good enough to stop Jamaican Usain Bolt and his sizzling new world- record 9.58 seconds in the 100 metres final at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics (WCA) last night.

And if the 74,413 onlookers here at the Olympic Stadium plus the millions worldwide glued to television sets, radios and computer screens were stunned by what they witnessed, they can take comfort that others, seven others - the fastest men in the world who had the best view of the race - were left dumfounded as well by the gold medal run.

Plan failed

"It's too early to say what I saw, what I experienced," explained sixth-place finisher Dwain Chambers of Britain, the man who earlier this year announced 'Project Bolt', the plan to beat the world's fastest man.

"It hasn't dawned on me what has happened yet. All I saw was the clock stop at 9.58, (Bolt) is an exceptional talent. There is not much more you can say to that."

Others in the historic race even suggested that Bolt is a unique species.

"There are no words to describe the guy," said Darvis 'Doc' Patton of the United States, who cramped up during the race to end up eighth in 10.34. "He is like a created game person. That's how good he is. He's just a phenomenal athlete."

As for the effort of his compatriot Tyson Gay, long viewed as Bolt's biggest rival, Patton simply shrugged and offered condolences.

"That's what like the third-fastest time in history?" Patton asked in reference to Gay's US record 9.71 second-place finish, a new American record. "He could have run that any other time and probably get second or first in any other race in the world."

Shaking heads

As for Gay, he too was left shaking his head during a post-race interview. But the American, who complained of groin soreness before the final, offered no excuses.

"To lose, I didn't want to lose," admitted Gay. "I ran my best race ever. But at the same time I did all the best doctors, all the best massage therapists, everybody possible, but it just wasn't good enough. I mean, (Bolt) ran an excellent time."

But at least a couple sprinters in the race were not caught totally off guard. Daniel Bailey, who finished fourth in 9.93, said he expected Bolt's outburst. The Antiguan is one of the Jamaican star's training partners. He saw the 6' 5" whirlwind coming.

"I know that was gonna happen," he said with a big smile. "He's been looking good, both in his start and in the last part of his race. So I expected that. But I am part of history. I'm happy for that."

Trinidad and Tobago's Richard Thompson, who finished fifth in 9.93 but was second to Bolt's record 9.69 at last year's Olympic Games, simply counted his blessings.

"I am just honoured to be in these races," said Thompson. "I made it to the final and I'm part of history."

His countryman Marc Burns, seventh in 10.0, chose to "tip my hat" to Bolt.

"Excellent race on the part of Usain," said Burns. "His confidence level is very high and he's on top of his game in sprinting. So it is very difficult for him to be beaten at any day."

Yet, none of the finalists agreed to give up chasing of Bolt. Call it sprinter's ego, suckers for punishment, misguided belief or plain competitive spirit. According to Gay and Patton, the best of the Bolt vs World rivalry is yet to come. Gay has promised to step up his game too. But for one night, he admitted, he was simply not good enough.

Fastest I could go

"That's the fastest I could go," said Gay. "I know I can run faster. It just didn't come together."

Jamaican Asafa Powell, third in a season-best 9.84, argued that Bolt could be stopped. However, he conceded it will take a super effort to topple the new world champion in the sprints.

"Anyone is beatable," said Powell, who appeared satisfied with his a second individual medal at a major championship. "(But) I think anyone running 9.58 is going to be hard to beat."

Even former world and Olympic 100-metres champion Maurice Greene of the US, known as a fierce competitor in his time, backed away from the Bolt storm. When someone suggested to him after the final that he make a comeback, Greene, who was standing just feet from Bolt, pointed to the Jamaican and said: "Do you think I want to deal with this?"

So it's back to the drawing board for the world's best sprinters as they pursue a near impossible task. When asked if any plan would work against Bolt, Chambers, who ran a season's best of 10 flat, simply burst into laughter.

"I don't know about that for now," he said. "I'm still working on 'Project Bolt'."