Blake beats Bolt in 100m at Jamaican Olympic trials

AFP
Yohan Blake on Friday became the fourth-fastest man ever in 100m as he ran a personal best in 9.75sec

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP) –

Yohan Blake celebrates after winning the 100m men’s final of the Jamaican Olympic Athletic Trials at the National Stadium in Kingston, on June 29. Blake served notice he will be ready to challenge for the Olympic title by upstaging world record holder Usain Bolt to win in 9.75 sec.

Yohan Blake served notice he will be ready to challenge for the Olympic 100m title by upstaging world record holder Usain Bolt to win in 9.75 seconds at the Jamaican Olympic Athletic Trials.

“Coach (Glen) Mills told me I can do it and I believed,” an elated Blake said on Friday. “The Olympics is the focus right now.”

Blake became the fourth-fastest man ever in the event as he ran a personal best and the fastest time in the world this year with a legal wind of +1.1 m/sec.

Bolt, the reigning Olympic champion, was second in 9.86 seconds after a poor start and Asafa Powell was third in 9.88 seconds.

“He’s a class runner without a doubt and I have said it over the years that he is one of the best. So for me it’s just one of those things,” Bolt said.

Usain Bolt said he was distracted in the blocks and it affected his start

Usain Bolt, pictured after the 100m men’s semi-final of the Jamaican Olympic Athletic Trials at the National Stadium in Kingston, on June 29. Yohan Blake served notice he will be ready to challenge for the Olympic title by upstaging world record holder Bolt to win the final in 9.75sec.

Bolt said he was distracted in the blocks and it affected his start.

“In the finals Nesta (Carter) moved beside me and when the gun went I was not focussed,” Bolt said. “It is kinda hard to run down people like Asafa and Blake with his top end speed. But for me to get left in the blocks like that is really bad.

“In the semis again, the guy next to me moved and it threw me off. It is kinda hard to ignore them so when they move it’s gonna throw me off a little bit. When I get left it is hard.”

Bolt said his mechanics were off as he made a final push to catch Blake.

“Over all from 60 metres the race was good. But the last part my shoulder went up so it kinda slowed me down.”

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