Highlights from Usain Bolt’s first race of 2017
See how Usain Bolt performed in his first competition of 2017 as he begins to prepare for the IAAF World Championships this summer.
Any day is a good day when Usain Bolt takes to the track.
The fastest man on the planet raced in Australia on Saturday night in the first of three Nitro Athletics competitions. The eight-time Olympic champion captained the Bolt All-Stars in Melbourne in a unique meet format with mixed teams.
RELATED: VIDEO: Usain from Jamaica calls in to TV show, host doesn’t realize it’s Usain Bolt.
The Jamaican superstar who is expected to retire following the 2017 IAAF World Championships in August ran one event at the inaugural Nitro Athletics event. He ran the second leg on the 4x100m relay, taking the baton from Asafa Powell, the former 100m world record holder, and passing it off to Jenna Prandini. Bolt’s team won the relay event in 40.64.
RELATED: Watch footage of the elimination mile here (one runner eliminated at the end of each lap).
Bolt holds the world records in the 100m, 200m and is part of the world-record Jamaican 4x100m relay team. According to the Herald Sun, more than 7,000 people packed Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne to watch the event.
The format of the meet involves captains selecting athletes for individual events with their placings contributing to an overall team score. The second and third meets are scheduled for Feb. 9 and Feb. 11. Bolt has committed to race in both of the upcoming Nitro Athletics events. There are no Canadians in the field.
Slow-motion clip of Bolt in the 4x100m relay
BOLTS AWAY!@usainbolt and @officialasafa stun @Melbourne the #SportingCapital with his effortless performance! pic.twitter.com/YbENDFMNwf
— Nitro Athletics (@nitro_aths) February 4, 2017
Race video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5iVRSYRTC8
Photos
Theyre not called the Bolt All-Stars for nothing!@usainbolt puts his team in the lead and they win in @melbourne the #SportingCapital pic.twitter.com/m2oWlJ5LMQ
— Nitro Athletics (@nitro_aths) February 4, 2017
*The moment you meet your sporting hero*
Schoolgirl Riley Day can barely believe she just raced Usain Bolt at #NitroAthletics pic.twitter.com/JDXA4ZHSSC— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) February 4, 2017
VIDEO: Watch Usain #Bolt fly at #NITROATHLETICS. "It was a lot of fun", the champ said – https://t.co/GnXACXyawY @gullanHeraldSun pic.twitter.com/2ezB49QBe9
— Herald Sun Sport (@heraldsunsport) February 4, 2017
Fair crowd. There's only 1 @usainbolt well down @nitro_aths pic.twitter.com/NnTKbcIQzK
— Renroc Group (@RenrocGroup) February 4, 2017
What a fantastic first night of action @nitro_aths. How'd you like that @usainbolt? #nitroathletics pic.twitter.com/0Z9OcrRixT
— Melbourne, Australia (@Melbourne) February 4, 2017
Yes, he is in there doing media! @nitro_aths @AthsAust #Legend #GOAT pic.twitter.com/pFU06HYfeO
— Run For Your Life (@r4yl) February 4, 2017
Results
Celebration of the evening
A little bit of #saltbae to celebrate the 3 minute challenge at the #NITROATHLETICS pic.twitter.com/3oezgccABl
— Ladbrokes.com.au (@ladbrokescomau) February 4, 2017
Standings
Team / Points
Bolt All-Stars – 1080
Australia – 1050
China – 845
Japan – 810
New Zealand – 795
England – 795
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