After winning 100m on Sunday from Justin Gatlin with a gap of 0.01 second, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt made a signature statement on Thursday, when he coasted to a dominant 200m victory over his American rival by 0.19 second. That made it amply clear that 200m is the great Bolt’s favorite event. He couldn’t break his own world record of 19.19 but he is still committed to doing that someday soon. In women’s 400m, USA’s Allyson Felix tore away from the blocks like a woman possessed and looked unbeatable all the way before stopping the clock in the world-lead time of 49.26 seconds. Behind the American, Bahama’s rising star Shaunae Miller delivered her PB but the silver-winner was 0.41 second behind Felix at 49.67. In men’s triple jump, world’s two top athletes; USA’s Christian Taylor and Cuba’s Pablo Pichardo fought hard true to the expectations, before Taylor came through with a sixth-round leap of 18.21m. Pichardo was second at 17.73m. Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk is the world’s only woman hammer-thrower, who has crossed the 80m mark. She holds the world record of 81.08m. On Thursday, she crossed 80m once again and won the gold with 80.85m in her fourth attempt. China’s second-placed Zhang Wenxiu could only reach 76.33m.
Usain Bolt’s victory in 200m was overwhelming. Unlike the close finish with his rival Justin Gatlin in 100m, the extended distance running was like a child’s play for Bolt. He shot off from the blocks and after 19.55 seconds, he was through. With Gatlin 0.19 second, Bolt proved that he is the king of 200m. It was the sixth straight global title for the Jamaican since 2008. Gatlin admitted that despite his best attempt, it was not possible to match Bolt. The only thing Bolt missed; was the improvement on his own world record of 19.19. Other than Bolt and Gatlin, the third place finish of South Africa’s Anaso Jobodwana in 19.87 was extremely impressive. Jobodwana was 0.002 second ahead of Panama’s Alonso Edward, who finished fourth.
In women’s 400m, Allyson Felix was as dominant as Bolt would be in 200m in the last event on Thursday. The amazingly versatile Felix began as if she has to run just one bend. With consummate ease, the US sprinter broke away from the pack and finished her run in a world-leading time of 49.26 seconds. Felix had skipped the 200m just for concentrating on 400m and she was fully vindicated. She thus became the first woman in history to win both 200m and 400m in world championships. The silver was claimed by Bahamas’ rising star Shaunae Miller, who clocked a very creditable 49.67 with Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson taking the bronze with her lifetime best of 49.99. For Great Britain’s defending champion Christine Ohuruogu, it was a huge disappointment as she finished eighth in 50.63.
In men’s triple jump, the rivalry between world’s two top athletes, Christian Taylor and Pedro Pichardo was quite evident. But the American beat the Cuban with a massive sixth-round leap of 18.21m. Taylor probably gave a scare to Jonathan Edwards, the world record holder for 20-years. Pichardo could only manage 17.73m but so long as the rivalry between him and Taylor continues, Edward’s world record will be in danger.
In women’s hammer throw, Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk is difficult to match. She holds the world record of 81.08m and she could have surpassed that on Thursday but couldn’t get beyond 80.85m from her third attempt. Incidentally, the Pole is the only woman in the world to have crossed 80m. Despite winning the gold, Wlodarczyk looked disappointed to have missed the chance of bettering her world mark. The silver was taken by China’s Zhang Wenxiu, who threw the hammer to 76.33m.
