RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (BDCi) — Usain Bolt started his season by winning a 150-meter race on a track set up at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.
Bolt cruised to victory in 14.42 seconds, falling short of the world-best mark of 14.35 he set on the streets of Manchester in 2009. Antigua and Barbuda’s Daniel Bailey was second ahead of Bruno Lins of Brazil and Ecudaor’s Alex Quinones.
After the race held in scorching heat on a four-lane track built of Copacabana beach in the city set to host the 2016 Olympics, Bolt said he was satisfied with his performance.
“It was my first sprint race, definitely a good start for the season,” Bolt said. “I’m looking forward to coming down here in 2016.”
Bolt celebrated by dancing with a few Brazilian dancers after the run, which was an official event supervised by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF).
He threw his running shoes to fans, who endured long lines to try to get to the track for an up close look at the track star.
Bolt, the first man to defend the 100m and 200m titles at the London Olympics was in Rio for four days, visiting social projects and participating in promotional events.
Bolt said he is still not sure if he will participate in the London Diamond League meet in late July, but his agent Ricky Simms reiterated he is working to ensure the Jamaican runner returns to England.
“We’ve had positive negotiations, it will be great for him to go back there a year after everything that happened last year,” Simms said. “It’s going to be a good event. We’ve just got a few things to finalize. In the next months, hopefully, we’ll find solutions.”
The London meet, celebrating a year after the Olympics, would be one of Bolt’s last competitions before the World Championships in Moscow in August.
Source: jamaica-gleaner.com