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Rediff.com  » Sports » Bolt cruises to victory on China return

Bolt cruises to victory on China return

May 23, 2010 20:11 IST
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Usain BoltUsain Bolt celebrated his return to China for the first time since his Beijing Olympic heroics with a comfortable victory in the 200 meters at the Shanghai Diamond League meeting on Sunday.

Less than two years after his sensational sprints at the Bird's Nest arena, the Olympic and world champion treated Shanghai Stadium to a more controlled performance on a cool evening in China's financial capital.

Well ahead by the halfway stage, Bolt crossed the line 10 meters clear of the field in 19.76 seconds, outside his own world best time of the year (19.56) and well shy of his world mark (19.19).

The 23-year-old Jamaican, who ran the fastest 100 meters of the year (9.86) in Daegu, South Korea Wednesday, was followed over the line by Americans Angelo Taylor and Ryan Bailey in second and third.

"There was some wind but in general it was a good race with a good time," the 100m and 200m world record holder told reporters.

The biggest name in world athletics, Bolt was making his debut in the new 14-leg elite Diamond League circuit after skipping the opening meeting in Doha earlier this month.

With Bolt dominating the men's side, Carmelita Jeter did her bit to balance the Jamaican-U.S. sprint rivalry with a commanding victory over world and Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser in the women's 100m.

The muscular American, who ran the second fastest 100m of all time in Shanghai last year, was slower out of the blocks but caught up with and then overhauled her Jamaican rival, the effort etched on her face and her fringe flying over her forehead.

"I wasn't expecting too much," said Jeter, who crossed the line in 11.09 seconds.

"For this year my goal is keep healthy. It is a season of recovery, not too much pressure, not the championship season. It is just a beginning and it is much better than I expected," he added.

It was Jeter's seventh win in a row since finishing third at the world championships in Berlin last year, a race won by Fraser.

"I'm disappointed," said Fraser, who trailed home in 11.29. "But I think that I'm somewhat okay. I have to go back to train and work much harder."

American David Oliver was hugely impressive in the 110 meters hurdles, powering home in 12.99 seconds to upset hometown hero Liu Xiang and world champion Ryan Brathwaite.

Former world and Olympic champion Liu, still dogged by the Achilles injury that ruined his Beijing Olympic dream, was third behind compatriot Shi Dongpeng, while Brathwaite pulled up in frustration after knocking down his first three hurdles.

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Source: REUTERS
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