Olympics: Bolt's double bid in top gear, Wariner and Merritt cruise

Tuesday 19 August 2008

BEIJING - Usain Bolt's bid to become the first athlete since Carl Lewis in 1984 to achieve the 100m-200m Olympic double got off to a convincing start when the Jamaican reached the second round of the 200m on Monday.

The 21-year-old, who put on a world record-shattering 9.69sec display in Saturday's 100m final, made a blistering start before easing up and finishing second.

Defending champion Shawn Crawford of the United States and compatriot Wallace Spearmon won their heats.

Crawford said that he wasn't in awe of Bolt and was just focusing on his own campaign.

"I don't have to defend anything. The 2004 medal is mine, nobody can take it away," said the 30-year-old.

"I am here to shoot for the 2008 medal, we are all doing the same - trying to shoot for that gold. The legs feel good, I'm ready to go."

Christopher Brown of the Bahamas registered the fastest time in the first round heats of the 400 metres as favourite Jeremy Wariner and chief rival LaShawn Merritt both strolled through.

Brown, twice just ouside the medals in world championship finals, timed 44.79 seconds in the second heat.

Merritt settled in the inside lane and cruised round at half pace before easing over the line in 44.96sec.

Merritt, who is coached by Wariner's former handler Clyde Hart, said that he had the utmost respect for 24-year-old Wariner, the defending champion and two-time world king, but that he had not come here to be second best.

"He's (Wariner) a champion, he's a warrior," said the 22-year-old, who was second behind Wariner in the world final last year.

"But I too have my expectations and I haven't come here to be second.

"It's going to take guts, heart and power. If you want to medal you have got to run a smart race, probably the best race of your life."

Wariner, who saw his nine-race unbeaten streak ended by Merritt earlier this season and was then second to him at the US trials, was an easy winner in his heat.

Wariner said that he had not been affected by the two defeats to Merritt.

"My confidence was never shot," he said.

Two Britons raised the team's morale as Martin Rooney and Andrew Steele both won their heats.

Rooney displayed some of the raw talent that he showed at the 2006 Commonwealth Games when the then 19-year-old finished fifth in the final.

Steele won well and claimed a significant scalp as reigning indoor world champion Tyler Christopher could finish only fifth.

His time was not good enough to see the 25-year-old 2005 world outdoor bronze medallist through as one of the fastest losers.