Bolt storms to 200m victory

Recovers from 100m shock to run 19.4 in World Championship.

DAEGU:

Sprint king Usain Bolt rebounded from his 100m disqualification to clinch the 200m gold, while Asbel Kiprop won a first-ever men's 1500m title for Kenya.

The 25-year-old defending champion and world-record holder crushed the field in the 200m, winning in the fourth fastest time ever run — 19.4 seconds. The Jamaican may have been slowest out of his block, but wasted no time in making up ground on American Walter Dix and was relieved at coming out victorious after the earlier disappointment.

"I feel great," he said. "I'm still the best. I made a mistake in the 100m or I would have won that too."

Dix claimed silver in a season's best 19.7 seconds with Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre coming through strong at the end to take bronze in 19.8 seconds.

"I wanted to bring the gold to the US but it wasn't to be," said Dix. "Bolt was just too strong."

Kiprop wins 1500m gold

Earlier, a master-class in middle-distance running saw Kiprop add the world 1500m title to his Olympic crown. The Kenyan stood firm in the sprint for home, with compatriot Silas Kiplagat taking silver and American Matthew Centrowitz bronze.

It was the first time a Kenyan has won the 1500m event at the worlds, something which Kiprop was very proud of.

"It makes me happy to be the first Kenyan to win the 1500m," he said. "Running with Kiplagat and others gives me motivation to run in the London Olympics."

Pearson sets new record

Australia's Sally Pearson set a new championship record of 12.3 seconds in the 100m hurdle, with American Danielle Carruthers winning silver and compatriot Dawn Harper finishing third.

Russian Anna Chicherova won the high jump with defending champion Blanka Vlasic finishing second. Matthias de Zordo won the men's javelin, pushing defending champion Andreas Thorkildsen into second spot.



Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2011.