Mills backs Bolt for quarter-mile »

Usain Bolt

WORLD-RENOWNED 400-metre specialist coach Clyde Hart believes Usain Bolt can become a super quarter-miler, but this is not news to Bolt's coach, Glen Mills.

"I always felt, and I still feel, that he is also equally effective at the 400m. He is an athlete with a tremendous range," Mills said.

Hart, who conditioned American great Michael Johnson, the world record holder at 43.18, and Jeremy Wariner, two of the greatest quarter-milers ever, said Bolt is capable of running a world-record 42 seconds.

"Yes, I think certainly if he (Bolt) had the right programme, with his speed, he could run under 43 seconds, but whether he would ever do that is a whole different ball game," Hart was quoted as saying on the Spikes - the New Heroes of Athletics website.

12-year-old record

Bolt, at the Beijing Olympics, lowered his 100m world record from 9.72 to 9.69, easing up 15 metres from the finish line. He then returned days later to run 19.30 to beat Johnson's 12-year-old 200m mark of 19.32.

In his junior days, Bolt dominated the region at the 200m and 400m events, winning four medals at the CARIFTA Games in 2004. He has a personal best of 45.28 in the 400.

"He can run well over the 400m as the 100m, 200m, however, he is more in tune to the shorter distances, as he has a greater love for them," said Mills.

Mills said Bolt prefers "the short distances rather than the training and preparation for the 400m".

Despite that, Mills said: "That doesn't take away the fact that he has the ability to run a tremendous 400m.

"If you look at his 200m you can see that kind of speed endurance and if he takes it to the quarter in a serious way ... he would be just as successful," said Mills who watched Bolt win three gold - 100m, 200m and 4x100m, all in world record times - at the Olympics.

Attack

Bolt, the day when he won 200m in Beijing, hinted that he could attack the 400m record.

"I will not go up to the 400m any time soon," Bolt said. "My aim just now is to finish the season injury-free and then look forward to next year's World Championships. Then after that, me and my coach will decide," Bolt said of a move up to 400.

Recently, he was also quoted as saying he will train with Jermaine Gonzales, the Commonwealth Games 400m bronze medallist, who has joined his Racers Track Club for the upcoming season.

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