Usain Bolt to Run 150 meter Street Race in Manchester

Last Updated on March 29, 2013 by Jimson Lee

Shades of Donovan Bailey and Michael Johnson.

Back in 1997 when they contested the dual race, my initial thoughts were the track dimensions and surface. Was it going to be a 75 meter curve and a 75 meter straightaway? Being an indoor baseball stadium, there was no way to have a 50 meter curve and a 100 meter straightaway.

It was simply mondo rubber rolled onto the hard cement floor of the Skydome in Toronto.

Instead of a proper curvature of a 36.8 meters radius, the special indoor 150 meter track resembled more of a candy cane. Were they thinking of the inaugural 1896 Olympics in Athens?

Donovan Bailey still ran sub 15 seconds… 14.99 FAT to be exact. His 50 meter split was 5.74 seconds, and his 100 meter split was 10.24 seconds. Obviously, there was no wind being indoors.

The key questions remain:

1. What is the shape of the “track”? A straight 150 meter track?
2. What will be the surface? How “hard” will it be?
3. What time will Usain Bolt run? 14.25 seconds?

Stay tuned on May 17th.

Usain Bolt to run in 150-metre street race in Manchester in May

MANCHESTER, England – Triple Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt will compete in a 150-metre street race in Manchester as part of his buildup to the European outdoor season and world championships.

The Jamaican sprinter, who won gold in the 100 and 200 metres and 4×100 relay at the Beijing Games, has agreed to run in the inaugural “Great Manchester 150” on a specially built tartan track in the city centre on May 17.

It will be Bolt’s first appearance in Europe this year ahead of Grand Prix races in June and July and the world championships in Berlin in August.

“I am very excited to compete for my first time in Manchester, my first time in a 150-metre race and my first time in a street race outside the stadium,” Bolt said in a statement issued by organizers Wednesday. “When I heard about the idea, I thought it would be great fun and something new and exciting.”

Bolt said he also plans to watch his favourite team, Manchester United, play at Old Trafford.

His appearance will come on the same day that Ethiopian distance great Haile Gebrselassie will seek to defend his title in the 10-kilometre Great Manchester Run.

“Having the two fastest men on the planet competing on the streets of Manchester on the same day is an incredibly exciting prospect,” organizer David Hart said.

He said some top British sprinters and other overseas athletes are expected to run in the 150 race.