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Athletics: Bolt breaks record

Manchester street race yields another world-best for Jamaican

Last updated: 17th May 2009

Bolt: 150m record

Olympic champion Usain Bolt brightened up a wet and windy Manchester with victory in the Bupa Great CityGames 150metre sprint.

Racing on a temporary surface constructed on Deansgate in the City Centre, the 100m and 200m world record holder clocked a new best time of 14.36 seconds after receiving a bye into the final.

The 22-year-old Jamaican, who won three gold medals at the Beijing Games last year, covered the first 100m in 9.90 and the "the flying 100" - from 50-150m - in just 8.72.

It all added up to a run which eclipsed the previous best of 14.75 by American Tyson Gay, whose time was recorded during a 200m race and not a straight 150m sprint.

Bolt was only passed fit on Monday after a car crash which required minor surgery on his foot just over a fortnight ago.

"It is one more to the tally," said Bolt when told of his world-best time. "I thought I would just go out there and run a good time.

"I'm not in the best shape and I still have a lot of work to do but I am getting there."

Britain's Marlon Devonish chased Bolt home in a time of 15.07 while Debbie McKenzie Ferguson, of the Bahamas, won the women's race in 16.54secs.