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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 8:08 a.m., Saturday, July 26, 2008

Track and field: Bolt cruises in 200 at London GP

By CHRIS LEHOURITES
AP Sports Writer

LONDON — Usain Bolt pulled away from the pack and never looked back today at the London Grand Prix, winning the 200 meters in 19.76 seconds.

The 100 world record holder from Jamaica got a fast start at Crystal Palace and led for about the final 100 meters, winning by a half-second despite easing up at the end.

"I came out here with a plan and I did execute that well," Bolt said. "My coach, no doubt, will tell me what I did wrong. I just came here to work on my 200 and I did just that today."

Wallace Spearmon of the United States was second in 20.27 and Paul Hession of Ireland was third in 20.37.

Bolt is one of the favorites for both the 100 and 200 at the Beijing Olympics, even though he has not yet decided to run in both races next month.

"I'm still not sure about Beijing. I'm still waiting to see what's going on," Bolt said. "I'd definitely like to double. I think I could do well in both."

Bolt set the 100 world record of 9.72 seconds in May, breaking the 9.74 mark of Jamaican teammate Asafa Powell.

"I'm just looking for consistency and to do what my coach says," Bolt said. "I'm managing to do that right now."

World champion Kerron Clement of the United States appeared to effortlessly circle the track in the 400 hurdles, easily winning in 48.36.

"I was aiming to get out quickly and I got the start I wanted," Clement said. "I'll probably do a little more speed work before Beijing, but everything looks good at the moment."

World indoor champion Lolo Jones of the United States came from behind to win the women's 100 hurdles in 12.58, and Melanie Walker of Jamaica won the 400 hurdles in 54.22.

Jones, who said Saturday's race was her last before the Olympics, edged Sally McLellan of Australia, who fell just after crossing the line in 12.61.

"I didn't get a good start at all," Jones said. "Sally had most of the race but it gives me good heart to know that I can still win even with a poor start."

In the women's 100, world champion Veronica Campbell-Brown caught up to Jamaican teammate Shelly-Ann Fraser toward the end of the race and held her off to win in 10.87.

"I'm in a great position to defend my 200-meter title in Beijing," Campbell-Brown said. "As for the 100, that's up to the selectors."

Fraser finished in 10.95, and Marshevet Hooker of the United States was third in 11.07. Former world champion Torri Edwards of the United States finished fourth in 11.09.

Allyson Felix had been scheduled to run in the 100, but pulled out. The American finished fourth in the 200 on Friday.

Kelly Sotherton won the four-event challenge with 3,964 points after finishing second in the 200 in 23.63.

Gi-Gi Johnson of the United States, who won the 200 in 23.48, was second with 3,813 points, and Laurien Hoos of the Netherlands was third with 3,621 points.

Sotherton finished second in the shot put with a toss of 47 feet, 1½ inches. On Friday, the Briton won the long jump and finished fourth in the 100 hurdles.

"My jump was fantastic, the shot good as well, and despite not being able to run as hard as I normally would around the bend in the 200 because of an injury I picked up in the hurdles, I still got close to a season's best," said Sotherton, one of the heptathlon favorites for the Beijing Games. "I think the weekend has shown that I'm on the up and on course for Beijing."

USA Red, with Rodney Martin, Travis Padgett, Shawn Crawford and Darvis Patton, won the 4x100 relay in 37.80. Trinidad and Tobago was second in 38.00 and Britain Blue was third in 38.34.

Other men's winners included Martyn Rooney of Britain in the 400, Abraham Chepkirwok of Uganda in the 800, Boniface Kiprop of Uganda in 3,000, Greg Rutherford of Britain in the long jump and Yevgeniy Lukyanenko of Russia in the pole vault. On the women's side, it was: Marilyn Okoro of Britain in the 800, Jennifer Rhines of the United States in the 3,000, Anna Chicherova of Russia in the high jump, Emma Carpenter of Britain in the discus and Christina Obergfoll of Germany in the javelin.

World champion Brad Walker of the United States finished fourth in the pole vault. He cleared 18-9¼, but skipped the next three heights before failing to get over 19-5¼, with one attempt and 19-7 with his next two.