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Bolt proves a big hit at Penn Relays
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Bolt proves a big hit at Penn Relays
BY PAUL A REID Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
PHILADELPHIA, USA -- The hearts of the organisers of the Penn Relays and the 'USA vs The World' relays must have skipped a beat when the Olympic and world 100m and 200m champion told a press conference on Saturday he was looking forward to returning next year.
After missing the meet for five years since running on a Sprint Medley Relay team in 2005, Bolt returned in glorious fashion last weekend, anchoring a Jamaica 'Gold' team made up of Racers Track Club members to a breathtaking, world-leading 37.90 seconds in the 4x100m race in front of a meet record 54,310 screaming fans.
Usain Bolt waves to fans after taking a lap of honour after leading the Jamaica 'Gold' team to a Penn Relays record 37.90 seconds on Saturday in the 'USA vs The World'4x100m race. (Photo: Paul Reid)
After early in the press conference saying he was "looking forward to next season", the 23-year-old double world record holder (9.58 seconds and 19.19 seconds) backed off later when asked if he would be back, differing the decision to Glen Mills, his coach.
In a stadium awash with the Jamaican national colours of green, black and gold, few if any will recall that the Jamaican teams won just two out of five events they took part in against the USA and several other national teams.
They came to see Bolt and were not disappointed as they hung on to every move he made, with deafening roars to greet his arrival at the stadium as well as when he started warming up with his teammates Mario Forsythe, Yohan Blake and Marvin Anderson.
After running what was announced as a mind-numbing 8.79 seconds over the final leg of the relay, getting the baton just behind Ivory Williams of the USA 'Blue' team before streaking away to the win.
The Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Phil Anastasia described Bolt's form as "part human, part hovercraft".
Bolt's effect on the meet started a month before the race as the announcement of his participation saw requests for tickets and media accreditation spiked well beyond previous levels.
On Saturday, the noise level at the stadium reached deafening proportions as Lisa Barber, a member of the winning USA Blue women's 4x100m team reportedly said she could not hear the music in her headphones.
Meet announcer Ron Lopresti was forced to ask the raucous crowd to be quiet as Bolt and his teammates got ready to run their event, as the noise was affecting the start of the high school boys final that was about to go off.
"The starter was telling the crowd to be quiet. That's one in a million. When you go anywhere else in the world, they (the crowd) are quiet. You get in front of Jamaicans, they make noise," Bolt said.
The meet organisers at the Penn Relays have frowned on victory laps in the past few years, as they tend to get in the way of other events and just before the race, some of Bolt's handlers were quietly planning one.
They did not need to, after crossing the finish line and tossing the baton to an official, Bolt took off on his own victory lap, circling the oval track, pausing to strike his 'To the world' pose at one corner, all this while the Olympic Development Women's Mile was going on, all but ignored by most people in the stadium.
Almost immediately after the race, thousands started leaving the stadium as they got what they came for and a full 30 minutes after the brief press conference ended, dozens were still waiting patiently, even as the temperatures dropped, just to see Bolt or to get his autograph.
Bolt, who is not known to be shy or retiring, told the packed media conference he was "still trying to get used" to the attention he attracted wherever he goes. "Over the past two years I've been surprised by the amount of people that know me, the welcome I get when I go to track meets," he said. "For me I am still trying to get used to it and it's getting bigger. I'm really enjoying it. I just come to work and stay focused."
Bolt proves a big hit at Penn Relays
BY PAUL A REID Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
PHILADELPHIA, USA -- The hearts of the organisers of the Penn Relays and the 'USA vs The World' relays must have skipped a beat when the Olympic and world 100m and 200m champion told a press conference on Saturday he was looking forward to returning next year.
After missing the meet for five years since running on a Sprint Medley Relay team in 2005, Bolt returned in glorious fashion last weekend, anchoring a Jamaica 'Gold' team made up of Racers Track Club members to a breathtaking, world-leading 37.90 seconds in the 4x100m race in front of a meet record 54,310 screaming fans.
Usain Bolt waves to fans after taking a lap of honour after leading the Jamaica 'Gold' team to a Penn Relays record 37.90 seconds on Saturday in the 'USA vs The World'4x100m race. (Photo: Paul Reid)
After early in the press conference saying he was "looking forward to next season", the 23-year-old double world record holder (9.58 seconds and 19.19 seconds) backed off later when asked if he would be back, differing the decision to Glen Mills, his coach.
In a stadium awash with the Jamaican national colours of green, black and gold, few if any will recall that the Jamaican teams won just two out of five events they took part in against the USA and several other national teams.
They came to see Bolt and were not disappointed as they hung on to every move he made, with deafening roars to greet his arrival at the stadium as well as when he started warming up with his teammates Mario Forsythe, Yohan Blake and Marvin Anderson.
After running what was announced as a mind-numbing 8.79 seconds over the final leg of the relay, getting the baton just behind Ivory Williams of the USA 'Blue' team before streaking away to the win.
The Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Phil Anastasia described Bolt's form as "part human, part hovercraft".
Bolt's effect on the meet started a month before the race as the announcement of his participation saw requests for tickets and media accreditation spiked well beyond previous levels.
On Saturday, the noise level at the stadium reached deafening proportions as Lisa Barber, a member of the winning USA Blue women's 4x100m team reportedly said she could not hear the music in her headphones.
Meet announcer Ron Lopresti was forced to ask the raucous crowd to be quiet as Bolt and his teammates got ready to run their event, as the noise was affecting the start of the high school boys final that was about to go off.
"The starter was telling the crowd to be quiet. That's one in a million. When you go anywhere else in the world, they (the crowd) are quiet. You get in front of Jamaicans, they make noise," Bolt said.
The meet organisers at the Penn Relays have frowned on victory laps in the past few years, as they tend to get in the way of other events and just before the race, some of Bolt's handlers were quietly planning one.
They did not need to, after crossing the finish line and tossing the baton to an official, Bolt took off on his own victory lap, circling the oval track, pausing to strike his 'To the world' pose at one corner, all this while the Olympic Development Women's Mile was going on, all but ignored by most people in the stadium.
Almost immediately after the race, thousands started leaving the stadium as they got what they came for and a full 30 minutes after the brief press conference ended, dozens were still waiting patiently, even as the temperatures dropped, just to see Bolt or to get his autograph.
Bolt, who is not known to be shy or retiring, told the packed media conference he was "still trying to get used" to the attention he attracted wherever he goes. "Over the past two years I've been surprised by the amount of people that know me, the welcome I get when I go to track meets," he said. "For me I am still trying to get used to it and it's getting bigger. I'm really enjoying it. I just come to work and stay focused."
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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