Bolt/Blake

Hi Guys,
With Blake beating Bolt at the Jamaican trials can you see this happening at the Olympics. I know their coach has come out and says that Bolt is 4 weeks behind Blake in terms of training but do you think he can 'catch up'? I was having this discussion with people from my athletics club and thie decision was split to either Bolt was taking it easy knowing he was going to finish in the top 3, or that maybe we now have a viable competitior to Bolts crown. I personally dont think Bolt would have taken it easy in a first 3 past the post race, especially when all the competitors in the 100m went on to run the A qualifying standard.
What are your thoughts?

While I know little about athletics, I think it might be a bit of a ploy by Bolt and his coaching staff to take some of the spotlight off him. It seems to be working out well too, he will be under immense pressure in London if they can lift it somewhat I think it helps. Blake seems to be a very solid runner though.

The only way Blake will beat Bolt is if Bolt has a bad day. His World Record is much, much faster than Blake's best.

The way i see it is that bolt when hes at is best, there is no one else in the world physically capable of beating him. IMO no other man alive is capable of going sub 9.6/19.2. The only question is whether or not he will be at his best come the olympics.

Blake looks very dodgy to me. He's prgressed too much too soon.

Whats the story with blakes ban a few years ago? what was he caught taking or supposidly taking?

lfc91 wrote:The way i see it is that bolt when hes at is best, there is no one else in the world physically capable of beating him. IMO no other man alive is capable of going sub 9.6/19.2. The only question is whether or not he will be at his best come the olympics.

Sums it up very neatly and concisely - Bolt is a freak (in the nicest possible way), and if he runs to his ability and doesn't false start, there won't be anyone within a metre of him at the end of the 100 or about 3-4m at the end of the 200m (which I think is actually Bolt's stronger event).

Bolt hasnt looked like he is going to run 9.58 again for quite some time. Doesnt mean he wont......but it certainly wont be on a relatively cold night in London.
If you look at what Blake has done, a 9.75 100 already plus showing he can maintain speed over 200 as he has a 19.26 PB then I think Id probably make him favourite. His start is way better than Bolts so he doesnt really have that worry. I think he is the man who will be churning out the really consistenly quick times in the next few years. Maybe not 9.58 but in the 9.6's for sure and I dont think Bolt will be running any quicker than that.
I think Blake for the 100 and Bolt for the 200.

lfc91 wrote:Whats the story with blakes ban a few years ago? what was he caught taking or supposidly taking?

Slap on the wrist stuff, just something in a supplement.

Although it was enough for the Jamaicans to realise that drug testing their athletes was perhaps a bad idea, and kinda put an extensive out of competition programme on the backburner for a while.

Regarding Bolt and Blake battle, it depends on how much Bolt has been affected psychologically by his defeats at the hands of Blake and that false start in the World Daegu 100m Final, last year.

Bolt can start well. As has been stated elsewhere, Bolt has the fastest 60m ever recorded - from the Berlin 100m final. His start was phenomenal [ 6.36 ]. His start in the Beijing 100m final was good too [ though I've heard some commentators describe his start in Beijing as poor - but when you look more carefully, we see his start was actually pretty good ].

He's having to deal with a very real threat in Blake - this is a game changer. Prior to Blake, Bolt felt invincible, with seemingly no one who could touch him. Now, Blake - a man who Bolt trains with, advises, and whom he calls a friend and knows very well - is breathing down his neck and threatening to topple him. The psychological impact of Blake's presence in the picture on Bolt's mindset and confidence levels is real. It's likely this caused him to false start last year.

If Bolt get's out the blocks with at least a reasonable start, then the 100m title is his. Weather permitting, with a good start, Bolt to take it in about 9.50 - 9.55s perhaps. If the weather's crap - 9.60+. Bolt to take it also if he get's only an average start. If he get's a bad start, Blake will take it.

Agree with everyone who has Bolt down as the favourite in the 200m. The start isn't so crucial. With that stride, Bolt will eat up the track. Weather permitting, new WR - may be around 19.0 - 19.10s [ sub19 would be really interesting though - but wonder whether the clock goes that low ]

Just a few thoughts as always

One thing for sure is that, it is nice to have a bit on uncertainty about the sprints.

Blake has really stepped up to the plate. Maybe it is a bit of the unknown factor, but i feel that Blake is now more of a threat than Gay ever was.

19.26s, how convincing was that 200m race???? Scary stuff for anyone.

Blake just this second ran a 9.85 in the outdoor classic in Lucerne! Anyone watching?

ryanbailey wrote:One thing for sure is that, it is nice to have a bit on uncertainty about the sprints.

Blake has really stepped up to the plate. Maybe it is a bit of the unknown factor, but i feel that Blake is now more of a threat than Gay ever was.

19.26s, how convincing was that 200m race???? Scary stuff for anyone.

Agree that Blake is a greater threat than Bolt ever was [ although if Gay could fix his extremely poor starts, he'd be in with a definiite shot. But unfortunately, he almost sabotages his own chances his starts are so bad...]

Yeah - Blake is looking mean...in fact, looking like a beast!

I got a feeling that it will be a Jamaican 123. Hope Powell wins or gets a medal at least.

I have a sneaking feeling gaitlin might get one az. Wouldnt like him too for obvious reasons but i think he has a 9.75 in the tank. However with bolt/blake/powell/gay all also capable of that it should be some race!

I have a bad feeling that Gatlin might spoil the party, though personally Im not a Powell fan. Great athlete but seems to have an excuse for everything, or an injury.
Id like to see Gay in the mix, seems like a really nice guy.

Did you see Blake run 9.85 last night? Looked good

Marc burns and Carter (who didn;t make the jamaican team at 100m) both 10.00 2nd and 3rd

I reckon Blake may be doing his best sprinting now while the others will peak for the final. Bolt, Gay, Powell. Hope Gatlin pulls a muscle after leading by a street at 80m.

Blake will definately, definately medal

1. Bolt [ Losses to Blake seem dodgy to me! ]

2. Blake [ Nevertheless, a genuine threat - weather permitting, he will dip into the 9.6's ].

3. Gay [ Needs a good start to challenge for 2nd - and a pehnomenal start for the title - but cannot recall him ever starting well, sadly ]

4. Powell [ He will start well - but will buckle. Even amongst the Jamaicans, he seems to be known for his trademark weaker 80m - 100m section the race. Don't understand why he hasn't be able to work on this ]

5. Gatlin [ Prefer it if he came last, or weren;t there at all. But he is there and looks strong. Though worth remembering he got beat by Gay, when Gay got his usual trademark bad start ]

Would be great if we could get a Brit in the final - even two perhaps [ Clearly been at the crinks cabinet ].

Gatlin beat Gay when Gay was coming back from a year out through injury. I expect Gay to put that junkie in his place.

azania wrote:Gatlin beat Gay when Gay was coming back from a year out through injury. I expect Gay to put that junkie in his place.

Gatlin beat Gay at the US trials. But more recently, was ace to see Gay beat Gatlin and get sweet revenge in a great run at the Paris Diamond League.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18727190