Bolt strikes to win 200 dash in rainy Oslo
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Jamaica's Usain Bolt competes in the men's 200 metre event with his compatriot Mario Forsythe (L) and Norway's Jaysuma Saidy Ndure (R) at the Diamond League's Bislett Games in Oslo June 9, 2011. Bolt won the event. (Xinhua/Reuters) |
Usain Bolt thundered past a weak field in driving rain to win the 200 meters at the Diamond League meeting in Oslo, Norway, on Thursday, clocking the year's fastest time of 19.86 seconds.
The Jamaican world record holder, competing over the distance for the first time in 13 months, danced around in the rain as the announcer read out his name before blazing out of the blocks at the gun. He powered away around the bend before cruising over the finish line.
Norwegian sprinter Jaysuma Saidy Ndure was second in 20.43 on the Bislett Stadium track where he previously trained as a club athlete. Mario Forsythe of Jamaica came in third in 20.49.
Asked if he was back in business, a grinning Bolt told a news conference: "I was never out of business. Business was just a little slow for a while.
"The 200 meters is my favorite event and I'm glad it went well. Now I'm just concentrating on staying injury-free."
The weather played havoc with many of the events as athletes tried to avoid a soaking in the heavy showers.
South African Caster Semenya did not find the cool, damp conditions to her liking and seemed to lack power coming off the final bend. She finished third in the 800 despite posting her best time of the season, 1:58:61.
"Now I have to go home and just rectify my mistakes," said Semenya, who shot to fame by winning the 800 world title in Berlin in August 2009 before having an enforced break of almost a year after undergoing gender verification tests.
Finn Tero Pitkaemaeki also suffered, coming fifth in the javelin with a throw of 80.22. German Matthias de Zordo struck gold with a throw of 83.94.
