BOLT WARNS RIVALS

By NBF NEWS

Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt
World 100m and 200m record holder Usain Bolt has given himself a passing grade after speeding to 19.56 seconds (wind -0.8 m/s) — the fourth fastest 200m in history at Saturday's seventh staging of the JN Jamaica International Invitational in Kingston.

The lanky sprinter holds two of the previous fastest times in the half-lap event with 19.19 and 19.30 seconds in 2009 and 2008, respectively, while former world record holder Michael Johnson sped to 19.32 in 1996.

Cheered on by 30,000 spectators Bolt, who ran in lane five, took the lead by the 60-metre mark before opening up a 10-metre gap on his closest rival Wallace Spearmon (19.98secs), who ran from lane six.

The 23-year-old told Jamaica Observer, 'This race puts me into a good place because in previous seasons I wouldn't come out here and run all-out, but I gave it a good shot. It's my first real race for the season, so I went out there to see where I'm at and to get my confidence and get settled for the season, so 19.5 is very good,' Bolt said, indicating that he wanted to give the home crowd a good show.

'I pretty much gave 95 per cent and I'm feeling good. I have a of lot more work to do.'

The Glen Mills-coached sprinter confessed that he still has a lot more work to do before he hits top form this season.