With no surprises emerging from the semifinal round, tonight’s final of the men’s 100 metre dash will feature an almost exclusive battle between the sprint powers of the United States and the Caribbean.
A false start by 2002 World Cup champion Uchenna Emedolu made for a tense start in the first heat, but Americans Shawn Crawford and Justin Gatlin, lined up side-by-side in lanes three and four, quickly dashed off any butterflies. Gatlin was clearly ahead at 20 metres, but Crawford, the World leader at 9.88, took over for good just three strides later. With their 1-2 finish assured, the training partners ran the final 15 metres looking at each other, as if planning in advance their next race that will take place in less than two hours. Crawford reached the line in 10.07, with Gatlin 2/100s of a second behind.
Ghanaian Aziza Zakari was off to the fastest start, and maintained that speed until advancement was evident. He was clocked in 10.11, well ahead of defending bronze medallist Obadale Thompson’s 10.22. The Barbadian, who finished 6/100s ahead of Briton Mark Lewis-Francis, will contest his second straight Olympic final.
Heat two, the second head-to-head between Asafa Powell and Maurice Greene in as many days, was extremely tight, and unlike yesterday, everyone was forced to run to the line. The reigning Olympic champion was the quickest from the blocks, but the young Jamaican, who beat Greene in their last two races, took command by 60 metres. Overcoming a sluggish start, Francis Obikwelu rapidly made up ground running on Powell’s right, pushing the Jamaican to a 9.95, win, 2/100s clear of the Portuguese. Greene was third, credited with a 9.97 as well.
Rounding into perfectly-timed peak form, World champion Kim Collins looked extremely relaxed en route to his 10.02 fourth place finish, a season’s best.
In the final, the 28-year-old from St. Kitts drew lane one, the same lane in which he won his world title.
BR
