BEIJING, China – Jamaica’s Usain Brown shut down after completing the curve and then just did enough to ensure victory in the men’s 200 metres semifinal here at the World Championships.
Bolt was relaxed and calm throughout and won in 19.95 seconds with Anaso Jobodwana of South Africa finishing second with 20.01 and Ramil Guliyev of Turkey third in 20.10. Miguel Francis of Antigua and Robert Skyers of Cuba was fourth and fifth in 20.14 and 20.23 respectively.
Nickel Ashmeade finished his 200 metres semifinals heat in second as Zharnel Hughes won a very close race. Hughes, who trains with Racers Track Club in Jamaica, won in 20.14 with Ashmeade finishing well after a slow start doing 20.19 as Churandy Martina of Netherlands was third in a season best of 20.20. Jamaica’s Olympic and World Championships silver medallist Warren Weir finished a disappointed seventh in 20.43.
In the second semifinals heat, Jamaica’ Julian Forte finished eighth as world leader Justlin Gatlin strolled to an easy victory. Forte failed to keep with the pace and was well beaten at the co
mpletion of the curve to finish in 20.57.
Gatlin won in 19.87 seconds with Alonso Edward of Panama finishing second in 20.02 and Femi Ogunode third in 20.05. Dominica’s Yancarlos Martinez with fourth in 20.31 and Reynier Mena of Cuba seventh in 20.56.
