Justin Gatlin might not be everyone’s flavour of the month but when he meets Usain Bolt in tonight’s 200m final he at least has history on his side. The greatest two sprinters of their era have only ever met once over 200m, in the 2005 world championships in Helsinki, when Gatlin came out on top against a gangly and raw Jamaican teenager who three years later would come to rule the world.
Admittedly, few would back Gatlin to repeat the trick. But in running 19.87sec, the fastest time in yesterday’s three 200m semi-finals, he served notice that he is unlikely go gentle into the good night. The problem for Gatlin is that Bolt had plenty in the tank in running 19.95 – a season’s best – as he coasted home to win his semi-final. Suddenly those reports from the Jamaican’s camp suggesting that he was in 19.4 or 19.5 sec form don’t sound so fanciful.
Said Bolt: “I felt smooth, I just did what I had to do to qualify. I’m more professional with 200m, I didn’t have to expend a lot of energy. I just ran the corner quick enough to make sure I got off in front, pushed about 50m after I came off and then shut it off. It was a smooth race, it was a good one. I’m just trying to get it done, that’s my focus tomorrow.”
The difference with Gatlin was obvious. While Bolt breezed, Gatlin grinded. Winning major championships is not only about running fast, it is about energy conservation too, and the impression the 33-year-old American gave was of pushing a little hard when it wasn’t needed.
However he insists there is more to come. “I didn’t know I was running that fast so hopefully I’ll put more energy into the finals and come out on top,” he said. Was he looking forward to meeting Bolt again? A nod. “Of course I am,” he said. “He’s a real competitor.” You suspect he might not be thinking that later today.
In the first semi-final, meanwhile, Britain’s Zharnel Hughes served notice that he is a shot for the bronze by winning in 20.14sec ahead of the Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade in 20.19. Said Hughes: “It was great. I just went out, execute my race and try to stay relaxed and get through the finishing line and I did that. I was starting to strutting out a bit, you could see and I could see Ashmeade coming across on the inside. You won’t be seeing that tomorrow.”
The 20-year-old, who only switched allegiances to Britain from Anguilla in June, hopes to get a medal. But he will have to deal not just with the pressure of expectation but having Gatlin on the inside of him in lane four, and his training partner Bolt in lane six.
Whatever happens, the 200m final will have to go some to exceed the men’s 400m final, which saw the South African Wayde van Niekerk become the fourth fastest man in history in winning his first world championship title.
Shortly after holding off the defending champion LaShawn Merritt and the Olympic gold medalist Kirani James to win 43.48, Van Niekerk was carried off on a stretcher and later left the Bird’s Nest in an ambulance, but the South African team leader, Peter Lourens, said the 23-year-old was OK. “It’s exhaustion. They are taking him to hospital for observation.”
Merritt took silver in a personal best 43.65, while James was third in a season-best 43.78. “It was a special occasion,” James said. “A once-in-a-lifetime race and I am glad to be part of a special group of 400m runners in this era.”
