Jamaican runner Usain Bolt (2nd L) crosses the finish line ahead of compatriots Ryker Hylton (L), Allodin Fothergill (2nd R), and Dwight Mullings in the men's 400m race of the Camperdown Classic, an annual track event in its ninth year, in Kingston Saturday. — Reuters
KINGSTON — Jamaican Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt was beaten in his first race of the 2013 season Saturday, finishing third in a low-key 400m event in his hometown of Kingston. The triple gold medalist from both the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics easily won his heat in 46.71 seconds at the Camperdown Classic. But he had to settle for third place overall after his training partners Warren Weir and Yohan Blake both posted faster times in their heats. “I'm happy, I've never been so nervous running a 400m but overall I'm happy. Physically I felt good, not as good as I normally would, but overall I feel good,” Bolt said. “It didn't matter about the time, I just wanted to complete this race, I know I may have one more for the season, maybe two depending on what the coach wants.”Weir, who finished third behind Bolt and Blake in the 200m final at London last year, won in a personal best time of 46.21 seconds. Blake, racing in the same heat as Weir, stopped the clock at 46.64 after fading in the final straight following a blistering start. “I feel strong, I tested myself in the first part of the race, that is what got the better of me in the home straight, but I'm feeling pretty good,” said Blake, who won the 100m world championship in 2011 when Bolt was disqualified for a false start. The places were decided by heat times because there was no final for the event, which was part of a meeting run by the Racers Track Club that attracted around 30 athletes. Bolt's major goal this year is the world championships in Moscow. Meanwhile, over in Montego Bay, Asafa Powell teamed with Winston Barnes, Nesta Carter and Roman Nichol to win the men's 4x100m relay at the Milo Western Relays in 38.62. Two-time Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce anchored an MVP club quartet to victory in the women's relay in 44.03. Bolt excited about NBA All-Star weekend The world's best basketballers have little hope of catching him in a race up the court and now Jamaican Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt is getting to ready to show them he can jump as well when he appears at the NBA's All-Star weekend in Houston. Bolt was invited to play in the Celebrity Game, featuring a mixture of well-known people from all walks of life, including some former NBA players at the showcase weekend from Feb. 15-17. “I'm very excited, you know,” Bolt said after opening his track and field season with a low-key race in his hometown of Kingston on Saturday. “It's something big and something good for me, so I'm just going to go out there to try and enjoy myself, try to dunk a few times. “(I'm) not a good shooter, but hey.” Asked if he was worried about getting injured during the game, he laughed off the notion, saying he was only playing for fun. — Reuters
