Bolt to celebrate birthday at home »

Usain Bolt streaked to another astonishing world 200 metres record, while Melaine Walker smashed the championship record for the 400 metres hurdles as Jamaica had another fantastic day at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Germany yesterday. Bolt, born on August 21, 1986, gave himself an early 23rd birthday gift by blowing away his rivals by a stunning six-tenths of a second to complete the sprint double in 19.19 seconds, eleven-hundredths of a second faster than the 19.30 mark he set in Beijing last year. His haul from the championships now stands at US$320,000 (approximately J$28m), following his world-record run in the 100m on Sunday. Winners receive US$60,000, while world records earn them a US$100,000 bonus. The Jamaican superstar pulled the next four men in the 200m into two personal- and two season-best times. Silver medal winner, Alonso Edward of Panama, clocked 19.81 to post a Central American area record, American Wallace Spearmon had a season-best 19.85 in capturing the bronze medal. Also running a season best was American Shawn Crawford with 19.98 for fourth, while Jamaica's Steve Mullings went under 20 seconds for the first time with a 19.98 personal best. Championship record Walker's 52.42 seconds run lowered the championship record, 52.61, held by American Kim Batten since the 1995 World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. Jamaica's team here is now on top of the world with five gold, two silver and two bronze medals. They are followed by the United States with four gold, four silver and five bronze, with Russia third on two gold, two silver and five bronze. Bolt, who said he will stay at home and play games to celebrate his birthday, admitted to being surprised by his final time. "I did not have that (a world record) on my mind. I just went out there to do my best and I am just happy with myself. (But) I keep saying that anything is possible once you put your mind to it. And I went out there and I ran really hard. I was surprised by the time. I did not know I was running so fast." Walker, who won the 400m hurdles title in Beijing in Olympic record time, said her victory here demonstrated her toughness in championship conditions. "I am somebody to beat every time it comes on to championships," she said, adding that she has been having sleepless nights while she plotted her victory. "I know I had it won at the second-to-last hurdle. I saw her (American Lashinda Demus) stumble and I went over first and normally in any race if you are able to come off the last hurdle first, you have a chance of being the winner if you have a strong finish." Demus, who weakened badly after clearing the final hurdle, held on for the silver medal in 52.96, while Josanne Lucas gave Trinidad and Tobago their first female medal at this level with the bronze in a national record 53.20.

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