Brilliant Bolt smashes own world record

The triple Olympic champion stormed to victory in Berlin's Olympic Stadium in 9.58 seconds, comfortably beating the mark of 9.69secs set in Beijing last year.

Defending champion Tyson Gay set an American record of 9.71 to claim the silver with former world record holder Asafa Powell third in 9.84.

Britain's Dwain Chambers was sixth in 10.00, a season's best for the 31-year-old sprinter.

In the semi-finals, Bolt had shrugged off two false starts – the second of which saw Britain's Tyrone Edgar disqualified – to breeze into the final.

Bolt was guilty of the first false start, which meant any athlete guilty of another would be disqualified.

But after Edgar had committed that second misdemeanour and left the track, Bolt was quickly out of his blocks and almost as quickly began easing down to a brilliant time of 9.89.

That indicated something special was on the cards and the Jamaican superstar duly delivered, powering out of the blocks at the first time of asking in the final and seizing control of the race within 30m.

From there it was only a matter of the time, and the large crowd exploded as Bolt streaked across the line to create another piece of sporting history.

Bolt's coach Glen Mills had predicted after the Olympics that his protege could run 9.54 and he was very nearly proved spot on.

Unlike Beijing, this time Bolt's shoelaces remained tied and there was no celebrating with arms outstretched metres from the line.

Instead, the 22-year-old had to content himself with a couple of glances from side to side as he approached the line, before staring intently at the clock as he waited for the time to register.

"I don't run for world records," said Bolt. "The aim was just to come out here and execute because it was going to be a tough race. I got a pretty good start, I was there at 20 metres and that was it. I said anything could happen and it did. It was a big target but I got 9.58 and I am really happy with myself. There was a big build-up, great atmosphere. It wasn't going to be an easy race but I had a perfect start and just went from there. I came out here to do my best and I did what I had to do."

Gay, who ran the third fastest time ever and was still comfortably beaten, said: "I ran the best I could. I just wanted to give my best tonight, it wasn't enough but I'm happy to have the national record. I knew I had to put out a championship performance. I gave it my best and that's all I could do."

Powell, who has been struggling with an ankle injury this season, added: "I was relaxed before the race. A lot of things have happened this year but to come back and get third place, I'm very happy.

"When I saw the time, I knew I had to go out and catch him. But even after the finish I couldn't catch him."

Chambers, who had only finished second behind Simeon Williamson in the trials last month, saw his "Project Bolt" come to nothing but could have reason to be pleased with his performance at the age of 31.

"It doesn't get any easier when you get older but it's all worth it. Competing against the rest of the world is great," he added. "I am going to recuperate, have fun with the rest of the team and get ready for the 200m and have fun."

Bolt had a wry smile on his face after the initial false start but Edgar was not amused to suffer his second disqualification in a matter of weeks.

Edgar, who was also disqualified from the recent Aviva London Grand Prix, said: "I'm disappointed right now because I feel I could have been in the final. I've trained all year, not to come here and be disqualified when I didn't think I really did (do a false start].

"I got a brilliant start. I was ready to roll today and that's the bottom line."

In the second semi-final, defending champion Gay won in 9.93secs ahead of former world record holder Powell and Trinidad's Richard Thompson. Chambers equalled his season's best of 10.04, set in the second round, to also advance to the final.

Ahead of that remarkable final, the Jamaican and American women got their own sprint rivalry going earlier yesterday. Kerron Stewart ran 10.92 in the 100m for the best time, leading a Jamaican team effort which placed three of their runners in the top four.

Carmelita Jeter of the United States was the only one able to split the trio, running 10.94 for second place. The final is set for today. Overall, Jamaica won five of six sprint titles at the Beijing Olympics and left the US team without a single gold. Now, the Americans want to become the top nation again.

In early qualifying yesterday, defending 800m champion Janeth Jepkosgei crashed but won an appeal to overturn her elimination. In the first heat of qualifying, Jepkosgei tangled with Caster Semenya of South Africa and fell.

She got up again, but finished seventh and last in her race. Semenya, the top performer of the season, injured her ankle in the incident and said she was uncertain if she could continue.

Jepkosgei, Semenya and Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo are widely expected to be among the medallists in Wednesday's final.

FACTFILE

1986: Born 21 August in Trelawny, Jamaica.

2003: Wins gold in the 200m at World Youth Championships.

2005: Claims gold medal in the 200m at the Central American and Caribbean Championships with a time of 20.03secs.

2007: Wins 200m silver at World Championships in Osaka.

2008: 31 May – Breaks world record in the 100m at Reebok Grand Prix, posting a time of 9.72secs in only his fifth race over the distance.

16 August – Wins 100m gold at the Beijing Olympics, lowering his world record to 9.69secs.

20 August – Completes Olympic sprint double, winning the 200m in a new world record time of 19.30secs.

2009: 29 April – Escapes serious injury when his BMW M3 car skids and overturns outside Kingston. Requires minor foot surgery.

16 August – Wins gold medal in 100m at World Championships in Berlin, with new world record time of 9.58 seconds.