Bolt, Gatlin set up 100m final showdown

The world’s fastest man Usain Bolt looked in ominous form as he secured himself a spot in the Olympic men’s 100m final on Sunday. Joining the Jamaica in the final was compatriot Yohan Blake and American contender Justin Gatlin, who also eased through in their semi-final runs.

It was Bolt, however, who clocked the fastest time of three races, working hard early in semi-final 2 before easing down a long way from the line for a time of 9.86s.  Canadian Andre De Grasse was next following Bolt to the line in a time of 9.92 and American Trayvon Bromell secured third spot in 10.01.

Gatlin and Blake faced off in the final semi-final of the night and it was the American who led from start to finish with a 9.94 win.  Blake, Bolt’s training partner, was right behind in securing the second automatic qualifying spot in 10.01.

In semi-final 1, Jimmy Vicaut of France was the fastest qualifier after registering a winning time of 9.95s.  The Ivory Coast’s Ben Youssef Meite was a surprise qualifier for the final with a new national record of 9.97.  Joining the duo in the final was South African Akani Simbine who clocked 9.98 for third.

Nickel Ashmeade of Jamaica placed a disappointing fifth in 10.05, behind Turkey’s Jak Ali Harvey (10.03), a former Jamaican national.

Cover photo: Usain Bolt