Usain Bolt has withdrawn himself last minute from the Jamaican national trials that he was expected to participate in last night.
The 28-year-old sprinter was on the startling list to compete in the 100m at the Jamaican National Senior Championships this Thursday but announced that he would not be participating at extremely short notice.
In Bolt’s abscence Asafa Powell, the former 100m world-record holder, dominated the 100m heats. Powell led his quater final in 9.98 ahead of former world 100m champion Yohan Blake, who suffered a poor start, who finished with 10.24. Kemarley Brown was also timed in 10.24.
The 2014 Commonwealth Games 100m champion Kemar Bailey-Cole and Andrew Fisher also made the 100m final, both recording 10.05.
Bolt’s untimely withdrawal has fanned the fires of speculation over his readiness to compete this year as he prepares for the Diamond League races in Paris next week. The six-times Olympic gold winner displayed an uncharacteristic performance earlier this month during the Adidas Grand Prix in New York earlier where he won the race in 20.29 seconds, leading to speculation over his form.
His manager Ricky Simms was quick to abate the speculation though as he commented that Bolt was never a confirmed a participant in the race, he said:
“Usain was never confirmed to run at the trials, he put his name in to have the option.
“I already told the media that coach (Glen) Mills would make a decision on Wednesday if he (Bolt) needed the race or if he preferred him to train ahead of Paris and Lausanne.”
The Jamaican sprinter is expected to participate in the Diamond League races in Paris on the 4 July and in Lausanne on the 9 July.
