media_artricles :: 2016

World record on Bolt’s mind in 200m final

Usain Bolt has his heart set on breaking his 200 metres World record in the final of the event here Thursday night.

The 29-year-old is already virtually assured of winning gold especially after his main rival, American Justin Gatlin, failed to qualify in a shock development in Wednesday night's semi-finals.

And with little challenge expected to emerge for the Jamaican in the 10:30 pm (9:30 pm Eastern Caribbean time) final at the Olympic Stadium, he has set his sights squarely on lowering the mark he established seven years ago.

"I'm going to try and go after the World record definitely," he said moments after winning his semi-final heat comfortably.

"I don't know if I'm going to get it but it's on my mind. Hopefully I'll get a good lane, hopefully a top lane would be good and maybe [that will be] a better chance to break the World record."

Bolt set the World record at the Beijing World Championships when he posted an astonishing 191.19 to lower American Michael Johnson's mark of 19.32.

Since then, he has flirted with the mark, clocking 19.40 in clinching gold at the Daegu World Championships in 2011 and posting an impressive 19.32 in his triumph at the London 2012 Olympics.

He clocked 19.66 at the World Championships in Moscow before registering 19.55 in taking the event at last year's Beijing World Championships.

Bolt has looked in imperious form since the start of the Rio Olympics. Following on from his success in the 100 metres, he jogged 20.28 to progress from the opening round of the 200 metres and followed up by cantering 19.78 to qualify fastest into the final.

He warned, however, that execution would be key to any new record.

"I definitely think I can try for the world record," he said. "But now, it's executing right, running the corner efficiently and coming in the straight and running the perfect race."

Bolt will be the only Caribbean presence in Thursday's final after Jamaicans Nickel Ashmeade and Yohan Blake, along with Trinidadian Rondell Sorrillo, all bowed out in the semi-finals.

His biggest challenge is now expected to come from 21-year-old Canadian Andre de Grasse who chased him home in semi-final two on Wednesday, clocking 19.80 seconds.

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