Lins' chance to face Bolt in Rio sprint
Rio de Janeiro, March 31 (IANS): Brazil’s Bruno Lins earned the right to challenge Usain Bolt in Sunday’s 150-metre exhibition sprint on Copacabana beach by winning heat for the last remaining starting berth.
Lins clocked 15.08 seconds Saturday to finish ahead of Alison Feitosa (15.30) and Sandro Viana (15.67). Apart from Bolt and Lins, the final will also feature Ecuador’s Alex Quinones and Antigua and Barbuda’s Daniel Bailey.
“It’s the first time that I am running over this distance. The time was good. My coach is going to be happy with it. But I think I can do even better in the main race,” Lins said after his qualification.
The event is being staged on a temporary four-lane track that has been custom-built on the famous strip of sand.
Bolt, who has won six Olympic gold medals, holds the 150 metres world record with a mark of 14.36 seconds set in Manchester in 2009.