USAIN BOLT 1st 200 Meters of the season

[BCBaroo]

I think that the idea of Bolt breaking MJ's 200m record is pretty ridiculous at this point. bolt ran his WR with a huge tailwind and isn't nearly as strong as MJ was in his prime (take a look at their respective musculatures). The 200m is a race of who can slow down the least while sprinting their guts out and MJ was perfectly built for the 200m. Until bolt proves to to be a consistent, long term 200m threat, he can't seriously be considered a legitimate threat. there's a reason why the past few 200m records have lasted for so long... its the toughest record in mens sprinting.

Hmmm.

MJ's previous WR didn't last that long.

But - Respective musculatures??

[Dutra]

Spearmon looks like he will double & I think this is his 1st time. How will it affect him?

Spearmon has to make the 100m team. Not a lock at all.

[dcunited]

I also cannot help thinking that Powell is prone to diarrhea or something like that, so poor (in relative terms) have his big finals been.

I can't help but wonder if Powell likes it best when he's big fish in little pond.

[EPelle]

Spearmon looks like he will double & I think this is his 1st time. How will it affect him?

I imagine much the same way it did as an NCAA competitor, of which Bolt (who is superior in ever respect but the actual testing of his strength), has not been one.

[mikli]

Yes, I remember very well what has happened to Powell, and the same can happen to Bolt. But I also think that it is easier to control speed in 200m than in 100m, where easing up may have detrimental consequences.

I also cannot help thinking that Powell is prone to diarrhea or something like that, so poor (in relative terms) have his big finals been.

[26mi235]

Bolt can jog all the way to the final. That must have some influence.

And run out of lane 1. It is not that easy, especially if you have the 100m where the amount of time to case the field is reduced. Sure, you can ease up at the end, but look at Powell's experience.

[mikli]

Bolt can jog all the way to the final. That must have some influence.

[nrh]

Spearmon looks like he will double & I think this is his 1st time. How will it affect him?

[26mi235]

Bolt pretty much improved at 200m last year & he looks better this year. I think he is the man to beat at 100m & 200m.

Bolt has strength, but enough to withstand six-seven rounds of running before he is able to put it on the line (in the expected time) in the 200m final?

Just basing off of last year when he did better than expected at the Worlds at 200m. Tyson went through rounds for the 1st time last year & did well. Ther's no reason to think Bolt can't do the same thing.

Gay had to do it twice, and his performance at USATF was pretty impressive given the necessity of double-peaking. I do think that Bolt is a year or two from being able to do the rounds and keep his top form. It would be a very good performance from him to be able to run 9.80 and 19.7 at the Olympics. If he had another year I would guess at 9.75/19.6 (of course, the wind will affect these +/- depending).

[sprintblox]

Tyson went through rounds for the 1st time last year & did well.

Tyson Gay had lots of experience running rounds in high-level competition before last year's WC. He was 4th in the 2005 WC and did zillions of rounds throughout his NCAA years.

[nrh]

Bolt pretty much improved at 200m last year & he looks better this year. I think he is the man to beat at 100m & 200m.

Bolt has strength, but enough to withstand six-seven rounds of running before he is able to put it on the line (in the expected time) in the 200m final?

Just basing off of last year when he did better than expected at the Worlds at 200m. Tyson went through rounds for the 1st time last year & did well. Ther's no reason to think Bolt can't do the same thing.

[EPelle]

Bolt pretty much improved at 200m last year & he looks better this year. I think he is the man to beat at 100m & 200m.

Bolt has strength, but enough to withstand six-seven rounds of running before he is able to put it on the line (in the expected time) in the 200m final?

[nrh]

I still remember the Osaka 200.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5X0NzVBE8o

Bolt ate up the stagger and was ahead of Gay as they approached the straight. Then Gay just pulled away. In the last 50m Bolt looked to be fading while Spearmon and Martin caught up a good 2-3 m on him.

While it seems obvious that Bolt should be able to run sub 19.5, in reality he may not quite have the ability of Spearmon and Gay to maintain speed over 200. Of course 2007 is 2007!

Time will tell!

Bolt pretty much improved at 200m last year & he looks better this year. I think he is the man to beat at 100m & 200m.

[jeremyp]

I still remember the Osaka 200.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5X0NzVBE8o

Bolt ate up the stagger and was ahead of Gay as they approached the straight. Then Gay just pulled away. In the last 50m Bolt looked to be fading while Spearmon and Martin caught up a good 2-3 m on him.

While it seems obvious that Bolt should be able to run sub 19.5, in reality he may not quite have the ability of Spearmon and Gay to maintain speed over 200. Of course 2007 is 2007!

Time will tell!

[AthleticsInBritain]

I could see sub 19.5 being run. I can just picture Gay and Bolt battling it out all the way down the home stretch to go sub 19.6. Saidy Ndure 3rd in 19.8 ...