The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Anthonique Strachan, Ty'Nia Gaither, Tamara Myers and Leevan 'Superman' Sands all competed in the second Racers Grand Prix in Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday as they joined in the festivities for Usain Bolt as the world's greatest sprinter said farewell to his local fans.

It was Bolt's final race on home soil before a jam-packed crowd in the National Stadium and with a celebrity of world-class athletes on hand as the multiple Olympic and world gold medallist participated in his final domestic race as he gets set to retire after the IAAF World Championships in London, England.

Although the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association has not yet held their final trials for the team heading to London, Bolt will be exempted from competing as he will take advantage of his wild card as the defending champion.

A nervous Bolt got off to a slow start, but made up the difference as he delighted the crowd that included IAAF president Lord Sebastian Coe and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness to win in 10.03 seconds.

"The run, it was just okay. I must say it was okay. I don't think I've ever been that nervous running a 100m," Bolt said after a huge victory lap of honour to pull the curtain down on a great night of athletic competition.

Bolt, the holder of the two sprint world records (100-200), eight Olympic gold and 13 world championship medals, has projected that he will only line up in the 100 to close out a career that span more than a century of success at the top of the planet.

"It will definitely just be the 100. I know a lot of people really want to see me run it (200m) but the 100m will be the one cause I know people really want to see that also," Bolt said. "I'm just going there to do my best and to come through victorious as always."

Although the night in Kingston belonged to Jamaican superstar, the Bahamians tried to make their presence felt in the aftermath of it all in their respective events that included a match-up on the track that will be a prelude to the Bahamas Amateur Athletic Association's Nationals in Grand Bahama, June 23-24 as the Bahamas get set to select its team for London.

In their head-to-head showdown in the women's 200 netres, Strachan regrouped coming of a sluggish start in lane seven to power into third place in 22.84. In the process, she surpassed the World Championship standard of 23.10. Gaither, running on the inside in lane three, fell short as she finished sixth in 23.25.

It was an American sweep of the first two spots as Jenna Prandini took the tape in 22.57, followed by Kimberly Duncan in 22.61.

Myers, just shy of the London qualifying mark of 14.10 metres or 46-feet, 3 1/4-inches, soared to second place in the women's triple jump with her leap of 13.80m (45-3 1/2). Jamaican Shaniek Thomas-Ricketts cleared 14.31m (46-11 1/2) for the win.

And men's national record holder Leevan 'Superman' Sands had to settle for sixth place with his distance of 15.81m (51-10 1/2). He was well behind the London qualifying mark of 16.80m (55-1 1/2).

His close friend and arch rival American Christian Taylor, who is poised to defend his title at the World Championships, took the top of the podium with an impressive 17.20m (56-5 1/4).