Usain Bolts to victory as Hession wins B race

USAIN BOLT ran a tremendous time of 19.59 seconds in atrocious conditions to win the 200 metres at the Athletissima meeting in Lausanne last night – while Ireland’s Paul Hession took the B race in the same event.

Hession did not have the dubious pleasure of running against Bolt last night but when the two separate 200m races were summarised, the Irish record holder ended up third overall and added 14 Super Grand Prix points to his total for the season.

Hession blazed to victory in the first race in 20.50secs, winning from the American Kelly Willie, 50.53secs, and the Japanese 100m champion, Shinji Takahira, 20.58secs in third.

Bolt won the other race in 19.59secs with Olympic 400m champion, LaShawn Merritt, second in 20.41secs and Churandy Martina (Dutch Antilles), a quarter-finalist in Beijing, third in 20.76secs.

“It was a good, solid performance,” Hession said afterwards. “I have had five 200m races this season and I have had five victories so I have to be happy with that.

“There was a good field but I was disappointed I did not get into the A race as there was more depth there – the equivalent of an Olympic semi-final at least. But I ended up third overall and I have to be happy with that.

“I won and I again beat (Brian) Dzingai who was the fastest man in both the first and second rounds at the Olympics last year so that has to be good.”

Alistair Cragg made a disappointing start to his European campaign when he dropped out of the 1,500m just after halfway.