Wait is over as Bolt bows into action
Sprint star begins quest for immortality today; eight other Jamaicans down to compete
BY HOWARD WALKER Senior Sport Reporter
BOLT… will lead eight other Jamaicans into action on what is expected to be a busy day on the track.
RIO DE HANEIRO, Brazil — The quest for immortality begins today when Jamaica’s Usain Bolt bows into action as he hunts an unprecedented three consecutive 100m titles in what will be his last Olympic Games.
Bolt will lead eight other Jamaicans into action on what is expected to be a busy day on the track. He will be joined by countrymen Yohan Blake and Nickel Ashmeade in the 100m.
The men’s preliminaries will take place at 7:30 am before Bolt and company join the action later in the day at 10.00 am Jamaica time.
As usual, the blue ribbon event of the Olympic Games determines the fastest man on the planet. All eyes will be on world record holder Bolt who hunts a historic triple treble of gold medals in the 100m, 200m and the 4×100 relay.
He has promised fireworks in this his reported last Olympic Games and the entire world awaits with bated breath as American Justin Gatlin and Yohan Blake are tipped to seriously challenge for his crown.
Uncertainty still surrounds the form of Bolt despite his 9.88 clocking after stumbling out of the blocks, but only a brave man would bet against Bolt securing his third consecutive 100m title.
Jamaica’s two women triple jumpers, Kimberly Williams and Shaneika Thomas, will be the first two in action at 7:40 am. Thomas will be in Group A which consists of 18 jumpers and Williams is drawn in Group B which has 19 competitors. The qualifying mark is 14.30m, or at least, the 12 best performers advance the final.
Aisha Praught is drawn in heat three of the women’s 3,000 steeplechase set for 10.05 am as she tries to make her mark in the Jamaican colours, after switching allegiance last year.
Having been disqualified on her debut for Jamaica at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, Praught will be hoping to make amends with a good showing. She has a seasonal best of 9:31.75 minutes, but will have to run closer to or, achieve her personal best of 9:00.67 minutes to advance to the final. Eighteen people will be in her heat. The first three from the two heats and the next six fastest go through to the final.
Then comes the women’s quarter milers in Shericka Jackson, Stephenie-Ann McPherson and Christine Day, who will take to the track at 9:14 am. McPherson, the Jamaican champion, will be in heat one of the women’s 400m where she will face Patience Okon George of Nigeria.
Jackson, the 2015 World Championships bronze medallist is in heat seven. She has a seasonal best of 50.42 and her main threat should be Kabange Mupopo of Zambia, who has a seasonal best of 51.22. Day will run from lane one in heat eight. The first two in each heat and the next eight fastest advances to the semi-finals.
Hurry up an win cause as Yuh done Yuh business a dash out.
:ngakak Needed that laugh Latty. Tonks
Met, I’m just here wondering how come Kasi live tweeting from her yard in Jamaica instead of from the stadium in Rio? Think she would have flown out already.
As his bestie said on snapchat “If you not here, you not a fan” Wha really a gwan?
The only reason she couldn’t be there is because she is pregnant and don’t want zika. Kmt no excuse. She’s not working now or doing anything so why not for even a daym. Hmmmmm
The amount a prayers sent up for Bolt, him nuh even have to touch di track and him a di winner. Lol
Him a go dusts out di dutty bwoy gatlin.
Oh gad mi did a hope him woulda bring her. Kasi it look bad good gal
she on her way
kasi on her way… wait on it
Martina the assistant..your boss isn’t going now where but Tracks and Records
:hammer u too bad! I have little she will reach rio :hope
No man. Kasi can’t get a par outside of Kingston? He shouldn’t do her like that. She deserves better. It looks bad.
She going hard for the ring tho…. On the commentary this morning, they were talking about how some says usain is very disrespectful….
What commentary is that?
Let us stop assume about their affair. Only Kaci and Bolt knows what is what and why. For i know he holds her in the highest regards :maho . Aunty Calender daays counting
UP inuh ALL THE WAY UP! :cendol
kasi said her Loubitons aren’t for the stadium when her baby gets home they gonna go to dinner n lots of sex
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I was rooting for Kasi to get the ring, and true, we don’t know all, but it doesn’t look good. Your boyfriend at the Olympics and you’re watching on television at home? It looks like she’s only good enough for snapchat features, partying, and nameless interview mentions. But not enough to stand with his family and watch him make history. Mi vex and anno mi! SMH
Wait…please don’t tell me it’s Lubica????????
What makes you guys not think that Kaci is there already and have everyone thinking she is in Jamaica? She will be there tonight. He will win and propose to her in front of the world. I can’t stand the roast breadfruit but Kaci well deserve de ring because only she can tek his cheating ways. If he does that tonight, he will get my respect which is something I have never given him.
Well, you can keep your respect because thats not happening tonight. Kasi is not there, she’s home in Jamaica. Someone on twitter told her that they looked forward to seeing her on tv at Rio and she replied that she is not there unfortunately.
Such a shame because she definitely goes hard for him and when it’s time to share in his big moments she is left to cheer from her living room like a fan. This really show up his ratings for her, which are not many, sorry.
I am sure there is more to it. More fool her if that is the case.
One race down .. I had hoped yohan would have gotten the bronze