Athletics: Bolt from the blue

Sprinter to stay at 100m - for now

Last updated: 7th May 2008

usain bolt

Bolt: World silver medallist

Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt could take on world champion Tyson Gay in New York later this month.

Bolt, previously known as a 200m specialist, missed countryman Asafa Powell's 100m world record by just two hundredths of a second on Saturday, recording 9.76 in only his third professional race at the minimum distance.

The 21-year-old lowered his previous best by almost three-10ths in the process, and is now likely to have several more tilts at the record before returning to the 200m at the Olympics.

However, Bolt, who claimed the silver medal at 200 in the world championships, is unlikely to double up in Beijing according to coach Glen Mills.

"In terms of ability, Usain has the most of any athlete I have ever coached and probably have ever seen," said Mills, who has overseen the careers of Ray Stewart and Kim Collins in the past.

"His abilities' range from the 100 to 400 is fantastic. A lot of people don't believe what they saw Saturday night was for real, so we will see."

Bolt is likely to take in several 100m races before the Jamaican trials in late June, including one in New York on May 31, while his only scheduled 200m appearance is in Ostrava on June 12.