Bolts cruises to 200m win at Diamond League Shanghai

May 23, 2010: In his first trip to China since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt cruised to victory in the 200m in 19.76 seconds at the Diamond League Shanghai meet.

Usain Bolt and Michael Johnson Interview

PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show with Tasha Danvers

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This week, Great Britain’s Tasha Danvers joins Jay Hicks and John W. Davis to discuss her unlikely story of earning an Olympic bronze medal in the 400 meter hurdles in Beijing, her six degrees separation in the track & field and the inspiration behind her latest ventures which include the Tasha Danvers internet radio shows.

That and much more on the latest episode of PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show.

-Galen Rupp NCAA Interview
-Tasha Danvers
-Tasha Danvers’ Internet Radio Show - Real Women, Real Talk, Real Speed
-Tasha Danvers’ Internet Radio Show - Building on Bronze

Special thanks to Tasha Danvers.

“PreRaceJitters Track & Field Radio Show, where the real playas come to hang out.”

Bolt Is Larger Than Life

Usain Bolt established the then 100-meter world record of 9.74 seconds on May 31, at New York’s Icahn Stadium. He has never been faster in New York City. Now he’s rolling on buses.

As a way of acknowledging the three-time world record holder, Puma has plastered huge pictures of Bolt’s race on the side of city buses in New York City and Los Angeles–the nation’s largest media markets.

On the dashing advertising, Bolt is flying towards history, dipping at the finish line of his world record 200-meter performance. Above the sprawling reproduction of the photograph taken during his Olympic performance are the words: “AND THEN. HE DJ’D THE AFTERPARTY.”

How can you deny the urge to like this campaign? These six words embody the Jamaican culture of dance, celebration, and fun times.

The other ad reads: “Bolt: 100 Meters 9.69, Bus: Not So Much So.”

PUMA’s intent is to honor his performance and showcase the man who gave Puma an unexpected burst onto the international stage. Bolt is an easy sell because he comes off like the life of the party.

According to Prerace Jitters sources, up until now it has been conventional wisdom that traditionally Caribbean athletes do not sell in the U.S.

That may all be changing.

His shoes sales have been strong ever since Bolt was groovin’ in lane 5, covering the 200-meters in 19.30. And British-based Virgin Media has approached him about pitching “Boltband,” a super fast broadband internet service product.

Bolt and many on the Caribbean island of 2 million are hoping to have more to dance about in upcoming seasons.

Jay Hicks for Prerace Jitters.

Bolt Strikes For Third Gold Medal in 400M Relay

-Beijing-The good times kept rolling on Friday for Usain Bolt and the Jamaican national team. Bolt ran a lightening fast third leg that helped to crush the World Record previously held by the United States. The U.S. had poor hand offs and did not make the final.

The Jamaica squad was made up of Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Bolt and Asafa Powell. Jamaica recorded 37.10, which improved on the record of 37.40 set by the U.S. relay team at the 1992 Olympics.

Is The Women’s Olympic 4×100 Winner Already Decided?

With just 50 days left until the 2008 Beijing Games the speculation is rampant. Who will take home gold in the women’s 4×100-meter relay?

Are the Jamaican women heavily favored to win?

The Jamaicans have some big names, a strong overrall squad, and maybe better chemistry. Over the last 12 months Veronica Campbell-Brown (10.88) is the most consistent 100 meter runner on the planet. The rest of the candidates are Sherone Simpson (10.94), Simon Facey (10.95), Kerron Clement (10.99), and Peta-Gaye Dowdie (11.31).

The American women relay pool has depth, depth, and more depth. Can a loaded Team U.S. hold off Jamaica and a fast-closing Veronica Campbell-Brown? The U.S. relay pool consists of: Torri Edwards (10.94), Allyson Felix (10.93), Marshavet Hooker (10.94), Muna Lee (10.97), Carmelita Jeter (11.07), Bianca Knight (11.11), Lauryn Williams (11.13), and Porscha Lucas (11.15), Sanya Richards (11.26) , and Miki Barber (11.31).

Who do you think will win the 4×100 and why?

By Jay Hicks.

Can Great Britain Win the 4 x 100 Relay in Beijing?

Jimson Lee at Speedendurace.com wrote an great article asking can the UK 4×100 relay team repeat with Olympic gold from the ‘04 Games in 08/08/08?

Heck no!

Maybe the Brits’ 4×100 meter relay should take Michael Johnson’s advice to Asafa Powell and trip their competitors. That looks to be the UK’s best chances to win gold.

This summer is a big one for the UK 4×100-meter relay talent pool, and some of its biggest guns will be locked in a drawer. It looks more like the nation’s top sprinter, Dwain Chambers will be not be allowed to run in Beijing. Darren Campbell has hung up his spikes for retirement, and Mark Lewis-Francis is out this summer with an achilles injury.

Jamaica will make some kind of run. The Jamaican national team has two legit stars plus, a bunch of guys with international experience. After what we saw at the Penn Relays in April, the Jamaicans can be that much better in Beijing, right? Marvin Anderson, Michael Frater, Nesta Carter and Dwight Thomas ran 39.04 seconds without world record holder Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt, who as of this publication is the second fastest man ever at 100-meters.

Who knows which Americans out of the talent pool will make the team for Beijing. We’re not going to jump the gun and say that Tyson Gay is a lock for the team. So far Darvis Patton, Wallace Spearman, Xavier Carter, Mike Rodgers, Leroy Dixon, John Capel, and Shawn Crawford are in the mix. As long as Team USA doesn’t drop the stick, the relay team is almost guaranteed to run well below 38 seconds.

The Nigerians dropped the stick at the world championships in Osaka last year. If the ’08 relay squad led by Olusoj Fasuba, the fastest guy on the continent, holds on to the stick in Beijing, the Nigerians may surprise some in the Olympic finals.

The 4×100-meter relay results are so difficult to predict because there are so many moving parts, no pun intended. Many of the national teams do not necessarily run or practice together that much before the Olympics because track is an individual sport. No one wants to be remembered for medaling on the relay. But, this Olympics is shaping up to be an epic battle on the track in Beijing. We will have to tune in to see how it all plays out.

Jay Hicks for PreraceJitters.