Usain Bolt celebrates his 19.30 clocking (© Getty Images)
Prague, Czech RepublicThe world’s fastest man Usain Bolt will compete at 100m in Ostrava Golden Spike meeting on 17 June.
The Ostrava Golden Spike is a Grand Prix status meeting as part of the 25 meeting IAAF World Athletics Tour 2009.
Bolt will return to city of Ostrava for third time. In his previous outings he won the 200mm and improved the meet record; in 2006 in cold weather with 20.28 and last year already as fresh 100 m world record holder with 19.83 what is also the fastest time ever achieved in the Czech Republic.
“I love the meet and the crowds there and want to return,” said Bolt. “I’m not taking care who runs against me, I will run my own race, that is my job.”
Asked about the possibility to improve the World record for which there is a $100,000 bonus on offer: “When I compete I’m always trying to get the best possible out of myself. Of course, depending on my shape! If the shape will be ok, everything is possible.”
Bolt’s only fear in connection with Ostrava is cold weather. “Chilly is ok, I can run in that, but too cold is not good. I’m expecting the usual sell-out stadium and great atmosphere. I want to show them something from Beijing experience.”
The Jamaican triple Olympic gold medallist and World record holder will run at the City Stadium in south eastern part of Czech Republic (called Moravia) his first European stadium track race of 2009.
It should be his fourth 100m of the year after windy 9.93 in Spanish Town early March and planned races in Kingston this Saturday (2 May) and in Toronto on 11 June. In the mean-time he is scheduled to compete in Manchester on 17 May at 150m in a street competition.
The organisers of Ostrava headed by newly appointed meet director Jan Zelezny are hoping he will be able to attack the high quality meet record of Asafa Powell who achieved 9.85 in Ostrava 2005 in what has been unofficially dubbed a “rain-world record”. The track should be fast enough as last year Dayron Robles clocked the 110m Hurdles World record of 12.87sec there.
Already earlier announced for Ostrava meeting are three Beijing Olympic winners Pamela Jelimo (800m), World record holder Dayron Robles (110m Hurdles) and the most popular current Czech athlete Barbora Spotakova (Javelin Throw). Also competing will be World champion Blanka Vlasic in High Jump and world leaders Paul Kipsiele Koech (3000m Steeplechase) and Lolo Jones (100m Hurdles), who should be fine for middle of June after injury at Drake Relays.
Alfons Juck for the IAAF
