Lightning Bolt Becomes Fastest Man on Earth

Jamaica's Usain Bolt ran a world record 9.72 seconds for the 100 meters in the Reebok grand prix meet at the Icahn Stadium in New York last night. The 21-year-old Bolt lowered the previous best held by compatriot Asafa Powell, who had ran 9.74secs on three separate occasions.

Incredibly, Bolt was running only his fifth 100m race and was competing in the lane next to America's 100m world champion Tyson Gay on a still night following thunderstorms earlier in the evening. Gay was second in a personal best of 9.85sec with Darvis 'Doc' Patton of the USA third in 10.07sec. The historic run sent a huge Jamaican contingent of fans wild with celebrations.

Bolt had set the track world buzzing on May 3 when he ran 9.76sec - the second-fastest 100m time in history - in Kingston, Jamaica, and earlier in the week he was still undecided whether he would even enter the 100m at the Jamaican Olympic trials, proclaiming himself a 200m specialist. He now stands out in front of the pack as the fastest man in the world.

"I knew if I got Tyson on the start I would have a better chance of winning," said Bolt. "Tyson and I aren't really good at starting so, my coach said concentrate on your drive [out of the blocks] and transition phase, get it right and just take it from there and I did exactly that."

Bolt revealed he was not looking for the world best, but felt in good shape. "I had an idea [the record was on] because I ran in Trinidad and I ran pretty bad and still ran 9.92, so I was pretty confident coming here," he admitted. "I wasn't looking for a world record but it was there for the taking so I just went out there and ran my best race."

The sprinter, who stands at 6ft 5in and had previously suggested he would specialize in the 200m, now looks set to double up in future. "I think that would change now," he said. "I'm definitely doubling up."