Bolt runs fastest 200 of year

Jamaican sensation still undecided whether to run 100 and 200 at Olympics

Last Updated: Monday, July 14, 2008 | 10:19 AM ET

CBC Sports

Usain Bolt from Jamaica competes in the 200 meters during IAAF Tsiklitiria Athens Grand Prix on Sunday. (Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press)

Jamaica's Usain Bolt, the 100-metre world record holder, recorded the fastest 200-metre time this year at the Tsiklitiria Athens Grand Prix track meet on Sunday.

Running the distance in 19.67 seconds, Bolt started slow but came quickly out of the curve to finish well ahead of second place Antiguan Brendan Christian (20.36) and third Brian Dzingai (20.45) of Zimbabwe.

The win made him the fifth-fastest 200 runner of all time, and was a career best for Bolt.

"I am very satisfied with my performance," Bolt said. "I feel sure I will be very strong at the Olympic Games."

Despite breaking the world 100 metres record in New York in May with a spectacular time of 9.72 seconds, Bolt is undecided whether he will compete in both sprints at the Olympics.

Also at the Athens event, Derrick Atkins of the Bahamas finished first in the men's 100 recording a time of 10.10. Americans Darvis Patton and Mark Jelks were second and third, respectively.

"This is my second win in a row here in Athens and I am very proud," Atkins said.

Cuban world record holder Dayron Robles ran the men's 100-metre hurdles in a time of 13.04 seconds to seal the win and set a championship record.

"Getting the Olympic gold medal is the most important thing to me, because it's something you can only do every four years," he said. "I know Liu (Xiang) will be difficult to beat. The people love him in China and he's a good person."

China's Liu was the world record holder in the event until Liu bested his mark of 12.89 by running 12.87 last month.

Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica took the women's 100 and equalled a meet record with a time of 10.92.

"I'm satisfied with my race," she said. "I train very hard and I hope to stay healthy in order to achieve my goal in Beijing. I adore Athens, I run my best races here."

She is scheduled to run the 200 and the 400 relay at the Games next month.

In the men's 400-metre hurdles, Louis Van Zyl of South Africa came out on top. He finished in 48.22 seconds, besting American Reuben McCoy.

"I am very happy. I ran my best race over the past two years," Van Zyl said. "I found my rhythm and I feel great ahead of the Beijing Games."