Bolt and Blake assure another showdown in 200m final

Paul Giblin
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, August 9, 2012
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LONDON, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Usain Bolt looked in complete control as he cruised into the final of the 200 meters with a comfortable win in his semifinal on Wednesday night.

Bolt clocked 20.18 seconds, which was slower that his main rival, Yohan Blake in the opening semi, but Bolt got off to an excellent start and ran a fast 100 meters to have the race under control before easing off in the closing straight.

"It's all about going as easy as possible, that was the aim. There's is no doubt who is going to come out on top, this is my favorite event and I'm looking forward to it. People always doubt the champion, but I don't have any doubts," said Bolt straight after his race.

It may have been the semifinal, but it was clear as he took to the track beforehand that Bolt was both determined and relaxed.

The papers have been full of stories of the Jamaican athlete following his gold medal run of 9.63 in the 100 meters , but it is not hard for him to justify the hype.

Bolt had won his heat on Tuesday in the fifth fastest qualifying time on Tuesday, but once again looked to be at half speed as he cruised across the line, but nobody has forgotten that Yohan Blake, who finished second behind Bolt in the 100 meters, beat him in the 200 meters in the Jamaican trials.

Blake was in the first semifinal of the night, alongside Wallace Spearman and France's Christophe Lemaitre, who had skipped the 100 meters to concentrate on this event.

Blake was always in control with Spearman a way back in second, while Lemaitre closed in the final meters. The Jamaican eased off, but still finished in an impressive 20.01 with Spearman in 20.02 and Lemaitre in 20.03.

"I've been working very hard on the 200 meters, I have to execute things well to have a chance of winning. I always have a chance in this event, but mistakes to happen. Usain is my good friend and it's going to be interesting," said Blake.

Warren Weir made it a Jamaican treble in the final as he finished second in the third semi behind Holland's Martina Churandy in a time which assured Lemaitre qualified for the final as one of the fastest losers, indeed he actually ran the third fastest time in the semis. Enditem

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