Bolt in false start

Kingston.
The triple gold medallist from both the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics easily won his heat in 46.71 seconds at the Camperdown Classic.

But he had to settle for third place overall after his training partners Warren Weir and Yohan Blake both posted faster times in their heats.

“I’m happy, I’ve never been so nervous running a 400m but overall I’m happy. Physically I felt good, not as good as I normally would, but overall I feel good,” Bolt .

“I didn’t matter about the time, I just wanted to complete this race, I know I may have one more for the season, maybe two depending on what the coach wants.”

Weir, who finished third behind Bolt and Blake in the 200m final at London last year, won in a personal best time of 46.21 seconds.

Blake, racing in the same heat as Weir, stopped the clock at 46.64 after fading in the final straight following a blistering start.

“I feel strong, I tested myself in the first part of the race, that is what got the better of me in the home straight, but I’m feeling pretty good,” said Blake, who won the 100m world championship in 2011 when Bolt was disqualified for a false start.

“Training is going really . . . you know, I’m confident, I have the world championships to defend my title and coach (Glen) Mills is just working on the different parts of my race and I’m feeling good.”

The places were decided by heat times because there was no final for the event, which was part of a meeting run by the Racers Track Club that attracted around 30 athletes.

Bolt is the world record holder and double Olympic champion for the 100 and 200 sprints but often competes in 400 races at the start of each season to build his fitness.
His major goal this year is the world championships in Moscow.

“It was about getting through the first one, so I can be more confident for the others,” Bolt said.
“I’m just very happy that I am fit at this time of the season to be able to compete in this race.

“Training has been going very well, I haven’t had any problems and that’s a good sign so I’m just working hard.” There was no final for the event, which was part of a meeting that attracted around 30 athletes.

“I felt a bit nervous,” said 100m and 200m world record-holder Bolt.
“I just came out here to win and I’m glad I won injury free.”

Blake said: “I’m happy with the run, despite the time. I’m just looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Meanwhile, Bolt and other overseas athletes will be able to compete tax-free in this year’s London Diamond League event at the Olympic Stadium after the British finance minister agreed to a “one-off” exemption.

Jamaican Bolt, who won three golds at last year’s London Games, had not previously raced in the United Kingdom since 2009 because of tax rules which would have left him out of pocket.

“The Government is determined to do everything possible to secure the Olympic legacy and I am delighted to grant this exemption,” Finance Minister George Osborne was quoted as saying in last Thursday’s Daily Telegraph newspaper.

The London meeting, switched from its traditional Crystal Palace home to the Olympic Stadium to mark the first anniversary of the Games on July 27, is expected to be a 80 000 sellout and would have been damaged by the absence of athletes such as Bolt. – BBC Sport.