Relay win seals golden Games for Bolt

By Sean Maguire

BEIJING (Reuters) - Usain "Lightning" Bolt powered the Jamaican men to a world record victory in the 100 meters relay on Friday, sealing his place as the dominant track athlete of the Beijing Olympics.

It was the third world record for Bolt, who has stolen the show in the second week of the Games with his dazzling victories in the 100 and 200 meters and his theatrical celebrations.

Bolt gave an assured performance on the third leg of the relay, safely handing the baton to former world record holder Asafa Powell, who powered home in 37.10 seconds, knocking a solid three tenths of a second off the 15-year-old American record.

"You can't explain the feeling that you are feeling at the greatest Olympics ever ... it's won-der-ful," said Bolt.

Just getting round the track safely was a priority for the men after the Jamaican 4x100m women bungled their baton handover to hand gold to Russia and snuff out the Caribbean island's chance of winning all athletic speed events at the Olympics.

Sherone Simpson failed to get the baton across to Kerron Stewart, the woman she shared the 100m silver medal with, and the Russian sprinters seized their chance.

Jamaica had won both women's individual speed events as well as the two individual golds seized by Bolt.

The new men's relay record underlined the Jamaican eclipse of the United States, the traditional track superpower, at this Olympics. The American men and women were knocked out of the relay heats by embarrassing baton fumbles.

"We were disappointed about the women, it was wonderful for us but disappointing for the women," said Bolt.

LONG DISTANCE DOUBLE

Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba won a slow-paced 5,000m, becoming the first woman to win both long distance races at the same Olympics. She won the 10,000m a week ago in the second fastest time recorded.

Her great rival and compatriot Meseret Defar was pushed into third by Ethiopian-born Elvan Abeylegesse, who became Turkish via marriage, who also won silver in the 10,000m.

"Every athlete wants to strive for gold. But only one of us can get it. Tirunesh is a hard-working girl," said Abeylegesse.

The anticipated dominance of long distance track running by the Ethiopians should be continued by 10,000m gold medalist Kenenisa Bekele who is aiming for the double in the men's events. The 5,000m is on Saturday, the last full day of competition.

China have barely featured in the track events, where they had hoped to score some success to match their medal dominance in sports like table tennis and diving.