LONDON (AP) — Usain Bolt set the stage for his grand farewell, powering down the finishing straight Saturday to qualify Jamaica for the 4x100m relay final at the world championships.
Fittingly, he will face Justin Gatlin and the United States in the final chapter of his unparalleled career.
Both nations won their heats early Saturday, though the U.S. relay squad got the baton around with more aplomb than Jamaica, which had to rely on Bolt to clinch victory.
And Bolt relished the adulation at the 60,000-capacity Olympic Stadium.
“They’ve been outstanding so far, and continue to surprise me and give me energy,” Bolt said.
For the best part of the past decade, though, Bolt has been 100 percent reliable in getting relay gold for the island nation. The last time Jamaica lost a world championship final was in Bolt’s rookie year in 2007, when he ran the second leg and only took silver behind the Americans.
Ever since, Bolt has flaunted his power at the end of every major championship, getting the third gold medal for himself and sometimes another world record for Jamaica.
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This year, however, he only got bronze in the 100m behind Gatlin. And the result in the relay is no longer a foregone conclusion.
The United States, with Gatlin running the second leg, won the first heat in a world leading time of 37.70 seconds. The Americans beat Britain and Japan, both of which also qualified.
“My team did a great job,” said Gatlin, the oldest of the squad at 35. “They’re thinking and acting like veterans and I’m proud of them.”
Christian Coleman took silver in the 100m ahead of Bolt and it gave the U.S. team an added boost.
“Having the gold and silver medal on the same relay team, which hasn’t been done in a long time, it gives us kind of a confidence booster that the speed can get around the track,” Gatlin said.
Bolt stepped out on the track for the second heat, and the Jamaicans needed him. Trailing when he got the baton on the anchor leg, Bolt powered away, quickly swept past his rivals and had time to look to his right before crossing in 37.95 seconds.
Still, Bolt was supportive of his young teammates.
“They came out here and did the job we wanted them to do, and that’s to get us to the finals. They executed and ran well for a young team,” Bolt said. “Over the years, this will be the team bringing in the golds.”
In the women’s heats, both nations are also through.
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