Bolt dominant again in Berlin

Hello from Berlin, Germany.

Day 6 action

As the kids would say, OMG!

Jamaica's Usain “Lightning” Bolt has struck again. The sprinter smashed the world record in the men's 200-meter dash, running a freakish 19.19 seconds Thursday night in Berlin.

The race was over after the first few strides and the 23-year-old Bolt had gapped the rest of the sprinters by 10 meters before the race was half over.

In the end, he gave himself the perfect birthday present, cutting his own world record by .11. Alonso Edward of Panama claimed the silver medal (19.81), while Wallace Spearmon of the United States raced to the bronze (19.85).

The other finals on Thursday night were much more competitive than the men's deuce.

Melaine Walker of Jamaica won the women's 400 hurdles, running the second-fastest time in history (52.42) and establishing a new championships record.

American Lashinda Demus was a close second in 52.96. The crowd of more than 70,000 spectators had to wait a considerable amount of time as the officials sorted out a three-way photo finish in the men's 110 hurdle race.

Ultimately, it was announced that Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados had won in a new national record of 13.14. Terance Trammell and David Payne of the United States both clocked 13.15 behind Brathwaite. A closer look showed that Trammell earned the silver medal over Payne by .001.

The women's high jump had been a highly anticipated event at these championships. The hopes of the crowd might have been with Germany's Ariane Friedrich, but Blanka Vlasic of Croatia withstood the pressure better and came away with a successful defense of her gold medal.

When the bar moved to 2.02 meters, five women remained, and only Friedrich and Vlasic had clean records. Anna Chicherova of Russia cleared on her first attempt, and suddenly led the competition, as Vlasic needed two and Friedrich three attempts.

At 2.04 meters, all three missed their first attempts. Then Vlasic, the 6-foot-5 Croatian, cleared on her second. Chicherova missed all her attempts at that height and almost had silver locked up.

Friedrich decided that gold was better than silver, and passed her remaining attempts to go for the win at the next height. The pressure had to be unimaginable: Every eye in Germany glued to her. But she produced what looked like a perfect jump at 2.06 meters. She cleared, her coach celebrated, and then a little wind from Croatia blew the bar off the pegs.

Slo-mo replay showed that a slight brush dislodged the bar. That left Vlasic with the gold.

Trey Hardee of the United States put together two solid days with several lifetime-best performances to win the men's decathlon. Coming into the world championships, Hardee was predicted to finish no higher than third in the grueling 10-event test of wills.

“I think I've said it a million times tonight, everything happens for a reason, and I'm honored,” Hardee said. “I feel like I represented the people to the best of my ability, and you can't ask for anything more.”

Hardee's point total of 8,790 was followed by Cuba's Leonel Suarez (8,640) and Russia's Aleksandr Pogorelov (8,528)

Star gazing

We have spotted several stars of the track and field world staying in our hotel.

Michael Johnson, the current world record holder in the men's 400, is here with his client, Jeremy Wariner (400).

Two British media guests with some rather impressive credentials are also staying at the Maritim. Colin Jackson is a former world record holder in the men's 110 hurdles and Jonathan Edwards is the current world record holder in the men's triple jump. In 1995, Edwards leaped an incredible 18.29 meters.

Speaking of stars, Nancy and I just returned from lunch at the Hilton Hotel. Among those that joined us for lunch were pole vaulters Stacy Dragila and Chelsea Johnson, stadium announcer Gary Hill, television commentator Larry Rosen, 400 hurdlers Kerron Clement and Lashinda Demus and decathlete Trey Hardee.

I hope to provide some pictures (proof) when I return.

Log on to www.usatf.org to see the television listings for the World Championships and go to www.iaaf.org for complete results.

Blake Risner is Glenwood Springs High School's track and field coach and is currently overseas in Berlin taking in all the action at the World Championships. He can be contacted at brisner@rfsd.k12.co.us.