Asafa v Bolt in JAM

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PREVIEW-Olympics-Bolt may face surprise challenge in 100m

By Kayon Raynor

KINGSTON | Thu May 3, 2012 6:43pm EDT

KINGSTON May 3 (Reuters) - Triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt could have an unexpected challenger when the Jamaican world record holder runs his first 100 metres on Saturday.

Asafa Powell, who held the world record before Bolt became athletics’ biggest star, is considering switching from the 200 to the 100 at the Jamaica International Invitational because of a minor groin injury.

Meeting official Donald Quarrie said no decision had been made, but the sprinter’s agent said they are evaluating all options.

Powell originally had been scheduled to run the 200 against 100 metres world champion Yohan Blake, but the groin injury has the world’s third fastest man contemplating a move to the shorter, less stressful distance.

“If I don’t run the 200 and get in the 100, that would be fine with me because this is what I’m training for and I have to be ready at anytime,” Powell told Reuters. “I feel good so we’ll see.”

With the London Olympics less than 85 days away, Bolt is hoping to make the race a test of his preparations with or without Powell. His only race of the season has been a 4x100 metres relay.

“I continue to work towards the Olympics with one aim in sight: defending my titles,” the world 100 and 200 metres world record holder said. “I am just working at keeping injury free and putting all the hard work together at the right time.”

Saturday could be an early look at that work, especially if Powell joins a field that already includes 2008 Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago, talented Jamaicans Nesta Carter and Michael Frater and Antigua Olympian Daniel Bailey.

The women’s 100 also is expected to be a fast one with American world champion Carmelita Jeter expected to face world bronze medallist Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Trinidad and Tobago and Olympic silver medallists Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson of Jamaica.

There are also strong line-ups in the women’s 400 where Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu of Britain faces 2009 world champion Sanya Richards-Ross and the men’s 400 hurdles where American Bershawn Jackson will oppose Jamaican Danny McFarlane. (Editing By Gene Cherry and Frank Pingue)

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Meh, groin injury is his excuse for slowing down the last 30 meters when bolt pulls away.

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Bolt wins in 9.82. Very good time for first race of season. Asafa pulls out as expected.
Here is the race: http://www.flotrack.org/video/633247-Usain-Bolt-982-100m-WL-Season-Opener-Jamaica-Invitational-2012
Notice that Ato has adopted a more Caribbean way of speaking now :smiley:

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Is it just me or does Bolt look bigger than before?

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Definitely. I was just going to comment on how thick he and Blake look, especially glutes/thighs. I think there’s been some serious weight room work leading into this year.

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Agreed. Bolts start looked good seemed like he didn’t transition very smoothly post 50m. Very interesting that this is the fastest he has opened.

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Yohan struggled a lil down the last 50 of the 200. Probably the weight gain that caused this. He and bolt are quite swole right now.

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I didn’t notice it on Bolt. The Daily Telegraph recently ran a couple of stories on Boltand Mills and I don’t see it in those pictures either.
Blake though certainly has packed some pounds and I have a hard time believing that he can equal his 19.26 form from last year in this shape. The longer the distance the more favourable a low bodyweight. This greatly increases the chances for Dix who is now being coached by John Smith and seems to run more efficiently.

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Well once he gets of this weight cycle I’m sure he will slim up by the olympics

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I am not a great believer in increasing body mass, any strength gains in the gym has limiting benefits to sprinting.

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Found that out the hard way eh Sharmer? :smiley:

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Yea I’ve been having that issue the pass few years. Wondering why I was so damn slow. The last to e I ran fast I was around 165. Lol I’ve been running at 175-185 for the past few years. Weight is detrimental

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I have been realising the very same recently. A few years ago I was running around 11 dead at 12 stone, last year at 13 stone my times were closer to 12.00 even though my 50m was sub 6 sec. Bare in mind I hadn’t trained speed end. atall but my top speed just felt awkard.

One of my old training partners is age 42 and still running sub 11, sub 22 and sub 50. As well as being a machine he reckons it is down to his 69kg weight. He hasn’t slowed much in 20 years and has weighed pretty much the same since then.

Although sprinters appear big and muscular on TV they are still very lean and light.