Unstoppable Bolt and Isinbayeva Snag Top Award

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt of Jamaica and Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva won the IAAF World Athlete of the Year awards on Sunday.

Bolt set world records in the 100 and 200 metres at the Beijing Games in August. His third gold medal came in Jamaica's 400 relay, also a world record.

Isinbayeva successfully defended her Olympic title and remained undefeated in outdoor competitions in 2008. The Russian pole vault queen cleared 5.05 metres in Beijing to set her 24th career world record and retain the Olympic title.

Both athletes take home $100,000 for winning award.

The entire field were Olympic champions and achieved incredible feats. Cuban hurdler Dayron Robles and Ethiopian long-distance runner Kenenisa Bekele were the other contenders in the men's category. Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia and Kenyan Pamela Jelimo were in the running on the women's side.

By Jay Hicks for Prerace Jitters.

Run Away Track MVP?

Does a scenario exist that does not involve Usain Bolt as track and field's most valuable athlete? The Jamaican star is running this time for the prestigious IAAF World Athlete of the Year Award to be named during the 2008 World Athletics Gala, which takes place in Monaco, on 23 November 2008.

How do you top three world records and three gold medals?

Bolt finished a magical season that saw him set the 100-meter world record on two occassions and the 200-meter world record fall at feet. Oh, and then there is the business of Bolt's pivotal third leg on Jamaica's world record setting 4x100-meter relay in Beijing.

Don't forget about Dayron Robles of Cuba - he can't be denied either. He rolled 12.87 over the 110-hurdles in Ostrava, Czech Republic on June 12, immediately establishing himself as the man to beat. Robles dizzing place delivered gold in Beijing.

Ethopia's Kenenisa Bekele has taken distance running to another level. His gold medal performance in the 10,000-meters finals was a new Olympic Record (27:01.17) - bettering the time he ran in 2004.

Bekele let it rip over the final 400-meters, unleashing a lethal pace that competitors found too much to match, solidifying his place in history among the all-time greats.

Bolt's career is far from finished. He has proven himself to be a brilliant performer and the next test of his young career is longevity. Meaning can he reign on top of the game for a decade, dominating a generation of sprinters - like Michael Johnson and Carl Lewis?

Stay tuned.

Jay Hicks for Prerace Jitters.

Bolt Is Larger Than Life

Usain Bolt established the then 100-meter world record of 9.74 seconds on May 31, at New York's Icahn Stadium. He has never been faster in New York City. Now he's rolling on buses.

As a way of acknowledging the three-time world record holder, Puma has plastered huge pictures of Bolt's race on the side of city buses in New York City and Los Angeles--the nation's largest media markets.

On the dashing advertising, Bolt is flying towards history, dipping at the finish line of his world record 200-meter performance. Above the sprawling reproduction of the photograph taken during his Olympic performance are the words: "AND THEN. HE DJ'D THE AFTERPARTY."

How can you deny the urge to like this campaign? These six words embody the Jamaican culture of dance, celebration, and fun times.

The other ad reads: "Bolt: 100 Meters 9.69, Bus: Not So Much So."

PUMA's intent is to honor his performance and showcase the man who gave Puma an unexpected burst onto the international stage. Bolt is an easy sell because he comes off like the life of the party.

According to Prerace Jitters sources, up until now it has been conventional wisdom that traditionally Caribbean athletes do not sell in the U.S.

That may all be changing.

His shoes sales have been strong ever since Bolt was groovin' in lane 5, covering the 200-meters in 19.30. And British-based Virgin Media has approached him about pitching "Boltband," a super fast broadband internet service product.

Bolt and many on the Caribbean island of 2 million are hoping to have more to dance about in upcoming seasons.

Jay Hicks for Prerace Jitters.

Lightning Bolt Dance On The Move

Watch and learn the latest dance taking over Kingston. Dancehall dj Elephant Man shows off the latest moves are inspired by The Fastest Man Alive.

Usain Bolt has helped to make his country proud and they are paying him back with a big sign of respect.

Jay Hicks for Prerace Jitters.

Usain Bolt Interview On David Letterman

Boltmania Hits New York City

He has taken his show on the road. Track star Usain Bolt chats it up on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman.

There is a new king in town. Check out the fans waiting outside to see Bolt after the Jamaican Olympic champion finished his first ever appearance with David Letterman.

Click here to the Usain Bolt video.

Jay Hicks for Prerace Jitters.

Video Courtesy: Stupid Famous People.

Boltmania Hits Kingston!

Matt Taylor's latest project "Chasing Bolt" involves chronicling the Usain Bolt throughout the entire season. The piece provides insight into who Bolt is and what he is all about. This is a must-see movie for sports fans across the world.

Jay Hicks for Prerace Jitters.

Carl Lewis "Sings" National Anthem

Fans in attendance at the New Jersey Nets game will never forget January 21, 1993. The day some critics have dubbed as the worst national anthem performance ever and Carl Lewis called it singing.

Dude has game--we chuckle at his antics, but King Carl knew how to entertain and the last time I checked, he still has endorsement deals with Hershey's and others. The companies probably requeste that the track legend to ease up on the public singing though.

Usain Bolt is the latest track athlete to take over the mantel as track's most interesting runner in the Milky Way Galaxy. The Jamaican is an entertaining character that sports fans the world over enjoy watching.

It appears that Bolt is already helping to make track cool again.

By Jay Hicks.

Usain Bolt Dashes To David Letterman

If you want to catch the "Fastest Man Alive," you'll need to watch "Late Show With David Letterman" on Sept. 24.

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who won three gold medals in Beijing, will make his first U.S. talk-show appearance that evening.


After that Bolt is set to appear on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Thursday and Regis and Kelly on the Friday.

By Jay Hicks.

Asafa Powell Predicts 9.5 Seconds!

How fast will the 100-meters go in 2009?

In a recent interview, former world record holder Asafa Powell seems to think it can go much faster. The question on my mind is whether Powell is thinking of himself or how fast he thinks his countrymen Usain Bolt can potentially run when making this prediction.

"When I ran 9.74 I thought my limit would be 9.69," he said. Then when Usain ran 9.69 after stopping 20 meters before the finish, it's obviously possible to go even faster. I think 9.6 is possible. I think next year you'll see 9.5."

Powell went on to say, "Wherever Usain takes (the record), I'll be there right with him."

Who better to ask than Powell. He has seen his previous world record of 9.74 get lowered twice this season alone as Usain Bolt cruised 9.69 to win the Olympic gold.

How fast do you think Bolt, Powell or Tyson Gay can run in '09?

Jay Hicks for Prerace Jitters.

Push Back To Carl Lewis Statements

Remember how we reported that Carl Lewis openly questioned the Jamaican success in Beijing and directly called into question the validity of Usain Bolt's Olympic performances?

Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell did not let the remarks go undefended and responded by saying the following:

"Yes, I am disappointed with the words of a former athlete [Carl Lewis]."

"What Usain did does not shock me, because I know how much talent he has and this is the first year he has devoted his training to the 100m."

Can't we all just get along? Only in track, do we have Olympic gold medalists going back and forth in the media at a time when glowing words should be bestowed upon the sport after the Beijing Games.

By Jay Hicks.

Bolt Back on The Big Screen

Watch out now.

The world wants to see more of the three-time Olympic champion and world record holder.

Usain Bolt is set to become the first Jamaican athlete to occupy the seat next to David Letterman on CBS' Late Show.

By all accounts, Michael Phelps is making enough dough to buy an accounting firm to count his money. Can Bolt or any other trackstar for that matter ever cash in on their Olympic accomplishments like Phelps?

By Jay Hicks.

Usain Bolt Big In Mainstream NFL

Terrell Owens does Usain Bolt Inspired Celebration Move.

As if rocking the Beijing Games were not enough, he has now inspired some of the NFL's best entertainers.

Usain Bolt caused Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver Terrell Owens to receive a 15-yard penalty for throwing a shout out to the Jamaican megastar.

T.O. is obsessed with Jamaica's Usain Bolt and on the HBO's Hard Knocks he said on camera if he had a 20-yard lead that he can beat the triple Olympic champ and world record holder.

After catching a 35-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, Owens lined up at the goal line like a sprinter at the start of a 100-meter dash. It was a entertaining reminder of T.O's challenge to Bolt.

Meaning that Owens believes he can run 80 meters (actually about 82 meters, since Owens expressed his head start in yards) in less than 9.69 seconds.

If the world learned anything this year, it is to put your money on Bolt, every time.

By Jay Hicks.

Track Has To Go Back To Drawing Board

Quick run up to someone at the shopping center and ask them to name three current track stars.

That’s what we thought.

Rich Pereleman for UniversalSports.com ran an incredible story about fixing track and field. Which is interesting because track is struggling to maintain against stiff competition from Mixed Material Arts, Extreme Games, and another other form of entertainment for that matter.

Pereleman wrote:

“Track & field, even in the Olympic year, is simply irrelevant as a spectator sport in the United States. The "regular season" for elite U.S. track & field athletes, in the United States, is an unremarkable series of three invitational meets called the "Visa Championship Series." In 2008, this included the May 18 adidas Track Classic in Carson, California (attendance about 2,000); the May 31 Reebok Grand Prix in New York (sell-out of 6,490) and the high-quality Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon (a legit attraction that sold out at 14,221). That’s it: three meets. The last meet in the "series" was the Olympic Trials from June 27-July 6."

The downward trend of the sport in the U.S. can tied to doping and lack of a leadership in the sport.

There is a laundry list of things that track and field must-do to improve, but becoming relevant again has to be at the top of the list.

By that I mean the sport must woven into the social fabric as it once was in this country. Gone are the days prior to 2001; my how we long for the brilliance of Carl Lewis; the incredible domination by Michael Johnson; the unpredictable antics of Maurice Greene.

Before the Olympic Trials most of the country would have been hard pressed to name fastest U.S. athlete for the past year: Tyson Gay.

Track meets have to be running in the U.S. during the summer months in order to make any ground. Many of the current track athletes lack the proper exposure. The fact is that the Adidas Classic, Prefontaine, and the Reebook GP have absolutely no media buzz.

Under new CEO Doug Logan the sport’s governing body has taken to social marketing, and that is certainly a start.

Every professional sport except track works at winning over the current and future generations. There is an opportunity with the Beijing Olympics, progress made with the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon and the star power of Usain Bolt to build momentum for the sport in this country.

Every four years we have this same conversation. Do you think this year will be any different?

By Jay Hicks.

Track Officials Won't Like This Either...

With the Beijing Games over, Usain Bolt can dance all he wants, without tv pundits and the Jacques Rogges IOC President giving their opinions.

Good for him.

Bolt and Asafa Powell perform a classic dance battle routine.What's next for the champ--taking over the reality tv dance world?

By Jay Hicks.

Instant Analysis: Bolt Fabulous in Brussells

-Brussells, Belguim--It's the Usain Bolt Show!

ESPN interrupted its normally scheduled programming to deliver news that Usain Bolt ran 9.77 over 100-meters--track is coming slowly coming back. This afternoon, rainy weather, a slow start, and fatigue could not keep Bolt from ending arguably one of the greatest seasons recorded. Bolt is headed on a plane back to Jamaica, while Powell heads to Rieti, Italy where he set the 100-meter world record a year ago. The Jamaicans took the top four places with Asafa Powell, about a half second back in 9.83.

A crowd of 47,000 came out to see the new Jamaican star at the Belgacom Memorial Van Damme in Belguim.

She's rich. Or should we say a $1 million richer as Pamela Jelimo easily won the 800-meters in 1:55.16 and ran away with $1 million as the straight up winner of the ÅF Golden League Jackpot.

Without LaShawn Merritt in the mix, Jeremy Wariner (44.44) won in a commanding fashion. and Kerron Clement followed suit in the the 400 hurdles-winning in 48.29.

It's been a long season and fatigue is starting to show. In a rare occurrence, Lolo Jones (12.71) took second in the 100-hurdles to Jamaica’s Delloreen Ennis-London in 12.65.

It is impressive to see a young, up and coming sprinter get a late season win. Everyone is tired, so no one would think twice if she cruised the race. But Marshevet Hooker (22.62) scored a sweet victory at 200-meters of Jamaica's Kerron Stewart (22.76).

By Jay Hicks.

We Finally Get Bolt, Gay, and Powell In Brussels

The Golden League race from Belgium set to run on Friday at 2 p.m. EST.

After the long awaited 100-meter show down featuring the big three is finally going to happen. The wait was extended after Tyson Gay did not make the Olympic 100-meter final in Beijing. The fans and media will finally get a glimpse of the showdown between Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, and Asafa Powell at Van Damme Stadium in Brussels, Belgium.

Sure, Tyson Gay is still working to get back to top form after his hamstring injury, but he is coming off a win at 200-meter (20.26) on Sunday at Gateheads, Great Britain.

Gay recently said, “looking forward to it” but “I'm not at 100% yet”. Making the race more compelling is that Asafa Powell just ran a personal best time of 9.72 and Usain Bolt put down 19.63.

The race is ripe for an upset. With the kind of times that Powell is capable of running in non-major race, Bolt will have to fight through fatigue and bring his big race in order to deliver a late season win.

The meet will be webcast live at Trackshark.

By Jay Hicks.

Usain Bolt To Keep It Real

The three time Olympic champion and World Record holder Usain Bolt say that he will not be changed by the money and fame.

True to his word, the Jamaican has kept it real fast and fun. On Tuesday, Usain represented it with 19.63 in Luasanne.

Here is what he had to say...

By Jay Hicks.

Instant Analysis - Oliver Knocks Off Robles, Powell Gets Faster In Lausanne

Powell Produces Fastest Times Out of Major Competition.

With nothing on the line, you can bet that Asafa Powell improved his 100-meter time to 9.72. Good enough to be the second fastest time in history-behind Usain Bolt of course. The consistent Walter Dix was close to his personal best time in 9.92.

Powell said, "Who knows? Maybe I'm not the guy for those big championships but just the guy to compete in the Grand Prix and Golden League meetings. It's just unfortunate."

It was only a matter of time before David Oliver bested Olympic champ Dayron Robles again over the 110-meter hurdles. A fast closing Oliver (13.02) got the best of Robles (13.17), marking the second that this season that Oliver has beaten the Olympic champion and world record holder from Cuba.

The 200-meter record is in jeopardy to fall anytime Usain Bolt laces up his Pumas. Tonight Bolted equaled the stadium record in Lausanne ,as the Jamaican lite up the track in 19.63.

Without Jeremy Wariner on the track, LaShawn Merritt dipped under 44 seconds producing 43.98. What will be interesting is to see which runner holds the fastest time at seasons end.

By Jay Hicks.

Michael Who? Michael Johnson On Bolt Breaking His World Record

Michael Johnson has a great sense of humor and a great sense of history as the sport's newest superstar Usain Bolt steps on the scene.

By Jay Hicks.