Bolt streaks to 200m final

BERLIN – Usain Bolt burned up the track during Wednesday’s 200-meter semifinals, looking sharp for an assault on a second world record at the world championships.

But Jamaica didn’t have to wait until Bolt’s final on Thursday for another reggae celebration. Brigitte Foster-Hylton followed up some Bolt-esque clowning ahead of the race with a clean run to claim the 100 hurdles title in a tight finish over Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Canada.

And to rub in Jamaica’s amazing speed, Delloreen Ennis-London took bronze.

The Americans were outrun yet again, with Olympic champion Dawn Harper fading to seventh place.

While another Jamaican gold was met with joyful jumping and yelps of sheer delight, victory of 18-year-old Caster Semenya in the 800 was cloaked in controversy.

On the eve of the 200 final, Bolt thrived in 26 degree C (80 degree F) heat in Berlin, running hard on the curve before closing it down just past the halfway mark and strolling past the line in 20.08 seconds – still the fastest qualifying time.

If he had pushed, Bolt could easily have broken Tyson Gay’s 2007 championship record of 19.76 seconds. Bolt’s world record stands at 19.30.

It stood in sharp contrast with Tuesday, when unseasonably cold weather turned him lethargic.

“I am feeling much better than yesterday,” Bolt said.

Defending champion Gay is injured and out of the 200, and teammate Shawn Crawford had to push hard to qualify as third in Bolt’s heat.

In the second semifinal heat, American sprinter Wallace Spearmon finished first in 20.14, edging Steve Mullings of Jamaica.

The temperature is set to exceed 30 C (85 F) at the Olympic Stadium on Thursday, and Bolt loves the heat.

He cut through the swelter of Beijing last year on his way to three Olympic golds and as many world records.

Bolt tried to play down expectations of setting a record every time he lines up in a final. A foot injury had slowed his curve-running early in the season.

“I really have not done the same amount of work like I did for the 100,” Bolt said.

Crawford was so awed by Bolt’s 100 record of 9.58 that he thinks his rival can do it again, this time with “19.28, that is what I think.”

“My goal is to run 19.51,” Crawford said. “I’d be happy with that. He is looking very impressive right now.”

What is more important, Bolt will be looking to give his Caribbean nation a 3-0 edge over the United States in sprint events, bringing Jamaica closer to the 5-0 thrashing of Beijing.

Defending 200-meter champion Allyson Felix will try to lift the gloom hanging over the American sprint team.

With effortless grace, she easily won her heat to advance into Thursday’s semifinals.      (AP)