USAIN BOLT REMAINS on track for a sensational twelfth world title, and a fairytale ending to a glittering career, after safely advancing to the final of the 100m at the World Championships in London this evening.
Just as he did in Friday’s heat, defending champion Bolt was slow out of the blocks and although he powered down the final 40 metres, the 30-year-old was pipped in his semi-final in a photo finish by American Christian Coleman, who clocked 9.97 seconds.
Bolt and Coleman will be joined by respective team-mates Yohan Blake, the 2011 world champion, and veteran Justin Gatlin, whose doping-tainted past again saw him jeered by the sell-out 60,000 crowd at the London Stadium.
South African Akani Simbine, in 10.05sec, won the first semi just ahead of Gatlin. Blake raced to victory in the second in 10.04sec, a hundredth ahead of Britain’s Reece Prescod.
Su Bingtian of China and Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut clinched the two best third-place finishers to round out the final scheduled for 9.45pm.
Tonight’s 100m final will be Bolt’s final individual race as he goes in search of a fourth World Championship gold in the event.
The Jamaican will then attempt to take his gold-medal haul at World Championships to 13 in the 4x100m relay next weekend.
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