Tweet
It's officially Bolt vs. The World
EMAILSHARE
Related tags: Track & FieldPenn Relays Blog
ALL TAGS
It's officially Bolt vs. The World
This year's USA vs. The World series at the Penn Relays promises to be the most anticipated in the 11-year history of the event with Jamaican world-record-holder Usain Bolt scheduled to run against the best from the U.S. World out of Jamaica today is that Asafa Powell will also be running, and will run against Bolt and not with him.
By Joe Battaglia, Universal Sports | Posted: Apr 21, 2:50p ET | Updated: Apr 21, 2:47p ET
RELATED TO THIS ARTICLE
VIDEO
T&F: Bolt anchors Jamaica to 4x100m win
Aug. 28, 2009: Usain Bolt anchors Jamaica to a 4x100m win over the U.S. at the Weltklasse Zurich meet..
T&F Bolt blazes on 4x100m anchor ยป
PHILADELPHIA -- The event's official name is USA vs. The World.
For the last 10 years, it has brought the best relays teams from around the globe together, with Olympians from nations such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Great Britain, Russia, Australia, Canada, Kenya, Germany and Nigeria traveling here to compete against star-studded U.S. teams.
But you could add up all of the thrilling moments from a decade of spectacular races (read more) and they won't touch the electricity expected on Saturday afternoon.
That's because Usain Bolt is running in the event for the first time.
And so is Asafa Powell.
And word out of Jamaica is they will be running against each other, not to mention the other teams.
Olympic great Donald Quarrie, the technical director in charge of the Jamaican teams in Philadelphia, told TrackAlerts.com that two Jamaican teams will run the men's 4x100m and one team will not be top heavy over the other in talent.
"We will have two sprint relay teams for men," Quarrie said. "I should know the order by (Thursday), but Usain and Asafa will be running the anchor legs."
The line-up for the teams are not yet known, but TrackAlerts.com believes Powell, Michael Frater and Nesta Carter could lead one team while Bolt, Yohan Blake and Marvin Anderson will run on the other.
When Jamaica set the world record in the 4x100m at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, it was Bolt running a sub-9-second third leg handing off to Powell on the anchor. When Jamaica won the race at the World Championships in Berlin last August Bolt also handed off to Powell.
The fastest time in the world this year is 38.08, run in Kingston on Feb. 27 by the Racers Track Club quartet of Kenroy Anderson, Blake, Marvin Anderson, and Bolt.
Jamaica has only won this event once, in 2008 when Anderson, Frater, Carter and Dwight Thomas clocked a 39.04. Last year, Jamaica had high hopes with Powell on the anchor but he pulled up limp with an ankle injury that hampered him until mid-summer.
The U.S. men's relay orders have not been officially announced, but the relay pool is comprised of Darvis Patton, Mike Rodgers, Walter Dix, Travis Padgett, Rae Edwards, Mark Jelks, Ryan Bailey, Shaw Crawford, Leroy Dixon and Ivory Williams.
Saturdays at the Penn Relays have become a fan-fests for Jamaicans, who turn out in droves to watch their high school athletes on the meet's final day.
With 39 Jamaican high schools, four colleges, and the two fastest sprinters in Jamaican history running this year, the event is already close to sold out and Franklin Field should be a sea of black, gold, and green.
***
If you want a true glimpse into what to expect this weekend, a must read is Walt Murphy's annual Penn Relays Preview. Murphy, a longtime publisher of the Eastern Track newsletter and statistician for the NBC Olympic broadcasts, once again went above and beyond with this year's preview, highlighting favorites in every race.
http://www.universalsports.com/blogs...id=469830.html
EMAILSHARE
Related tags: Track & FieldPenn Relays Blog
ALL TAGS
It's officially Bolt vs. The World
This year's USA vs. The World series at the Penn Relays promises to be the most anticipated in the 11-year history of the event with Jamaican world-record-holder Usain Bolt scheduled to run against the best from the U.S. World out of Jamaica today is that Asafa Powell will also be running, and will run against Bolt and not with him.
By Joe Battaglia, Universal Sports | Posted: Apr 21, 2:50p ET | Updated: Apr 21, 2:47p ET
RELATED TO THIS ARTICLE
VIDEO
T&F: Bolt anchors Jamaica to 4x100m win
Aug. 28, 2009: Usain Bolt anchors Jamaica to a 4x100m win over the U.S. at the Weltklasse Zurich meet..
T&F Bolt blazes on 4x100m anchor ยป
PHILADELPHIA -- The event's official name is USA vs. The World.
For the last 10 years, it has brought the best relays teams from around the globe together, with Olympians from nations such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Great Britain, Russia, Australia, Canada, Kenya, Germany and Nigeria traveling here to compete against star-studded U.S. teams.
But you could add up all of the thrilling moments from a decade of spectacular races (read more) and they won't touch the electricity expected on Saturday afternoon.
That's because Usain Bolt is running in the event for the first time.
And so is Asafa Powell.
And word out of Jamaica is they will be running against each other, not to mention the other teams.
Olympic great Donald Quarrie, the technical director in charge of the Jamaican teams in Philadelphia, told TrackAlerts.com that two Jamaican teams will run the men's 4x100m and one team will not be top heavy over the other in talent.
"We will have two sprint relay teams for men," Quarrie said. "I should know the order by (Thursday), but Usain and Asafa will be running the anchor legs."
The line-up for the teams are not yet known, but TrackAlerts.com believes Powell, Michael Frater and Nesta Carter could lead one team while Bolt, Yohan Blake and Marvin Anderson will run on the other.
When Jamaica set the world record in the 4x100m at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, it was Bolt running a sub-9-second third leg handing off to Powell on the anchor. When Jamaica won the race at the World Championships in Berlin last August Bolt also handed off to Powell.
The fastest time in the world this year is 38.08, run in Kingston on Feb. 27 by the Racers Track Club quartet of Kenroy Anderson, Blake, Marvin Anderson, and Bolt.
Jamaica has only won this event once, in 2008 when Anderson, Frater, Carter and Dwight Thomas clocked a 39.04. Last year, Jamaica had high hopes with Powell on the anchor but he pulled up limp with an ankle injury that hampered him until mid-summer.
The U.S. men's relay orders have not been officially announced, but the relay pool is comprised of Darvis Patton, Mike Rodgers, Walter Dix, Travis Padgett, Rae Edwards, Mark Jelks, Ryan Bailey, Shaw Crawford, Leroy Dixon and Ivory Williams.
Saturdays at the Penn Relays have become a fan-fests for Jamaicans, who turn out in droves to watch their high school athletes on the meet's final day.
With 39 Jamaican high schools, four colleges, and the two fastest sprinters in Jamaican history running this year, the event is already close to sold out and Franklin Field should be a sea of black, gold, and green.
***
If you want a true glimpse into what to expect this weekend, a must read is Walt Murphy's annual Penn Relays Preview. Murphy, a longtime publisher of the Eastern Track newsletter and statistician for the NBC Olympic broadcasts, once again went above and beyond with this year's preview, highlighting favorites in every race.
http://www.universalsports.com/blogs...id=469830.html
Comment