Bolt skips Golden Spike to train for European events

SIX-TIMES Olympic champion Usain Bolt has pulled out of this week’s Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava.

The 26-year-old, who coasted to 100 metres victory at the Jamaican trials in 9.94 seconds on Friday, will stay in his homeland to gain extra preparation time before heading to Europe for a series of meetings culminating in August’s World Championships in Moscow.

He yesterday apologised to organisers of the event in the Czech Republic, part of the IAAF World Challenge, and vowed to do his best to return next year.

“I want to apologise to my fans in Ostrava but this year I will not be coming to the Golden Spike meeting,” he said in a statement on www.zlatatretra.cz.

“Instead, I will stay in Jamaica with my coach for an extra week to focus on training before coming to Europe.

“I can assure you I will try my best to be back in 2014 on June 17 in an individual event. Thank you for your usual great support.”

Bolt, who first competed at the Ostrava meet in 2006 and has participated every year since 2008, had been scheduled to anchor the sprint relay on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Olympic bronze medallist Hansle Parchment was forced out of the Jamaican national championships after he twisted his ankle due to inadequate lighting during the warm-ups for the 110 metres hurdles final on Saturday.

Parchment, who has run the world’s leading time this year of 13.05 seconds, trod on a hurdle in the warm-up area before the final, which was won by Andrew Riley. “The lighting could have been better at the warm-up track,” said his coach Fitz Coleman.