Bolt, US trio in 200m final
2008-08-19 16:33
Beijing - Jamaica's Usain Bolt took another step in his bid for the first Olympic sprint double in 24 years when he cantered into the final of the men's 200m on Tuesday.
Bolt tracked defending champion Shawn Crawford of the United States down the back straight and pulled away in the final metres to win his semi-final in 20.09 seconds.
Crawford, who timed 20.12sec in second place, will lead a trio of American sprinters into Wednesday's final against Bolt, who bettered his own world record when he won the 100m on Saturday.
Walter Dix, the American 100m bronze medallist, finished third in the first heat in 20.19sec behind winner Churandy Martina of the Dutch Antilles in 20.11sec and Zimbabwe's Brian Dzingai.
And Wallace Spearmon, who won 200m bronze at the worlds in Osaka last year and silver in Helsinki in 2005, also qualified in 20.14sec.
The 21-year-old Bolt, who has run the three fastest 200m times this year including the fifth fastest ever - 19.67sec in Athens - is bidding for a first Olympic sprint double since American Carl Lewis achieved the feat at the Los Angeles Games in 1984.
Also going through to the final are veteran Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis and Welshman Christian Malcolm, who beat off a later surge from Ireland's Paul Hession to claim the fourth and final spot in his semi.