Speedster Bolt races to top 200 time in 2008

He’s the fifth fastest man of all-time.

ATHENS (AP) — Usain Bolt, the 100-meter world record holder, ran the fastest time in the 200 this year, winning in 19.67 seconds Sunday at the Tsiklitiria Athens Grand Prix.

The 21-year-old Jamaican is now the fifth fastest man of all time in the 200. His time was the sixth best ever, with world record holder Michael Johnson having twice run faster.

“I am very satisfied with my performance,” Bolt said. “I feel sure I will be very strong at the Olympic Games.”

Although he started slowly, Bolt had recovered as he came out of the curve, winning by a wide margin ahead of Brendan Christian of Antigua, who was second in 20.36.

Bolt ran 9.72 to set the 100 world record in New York in May. He didn’t run the 100 in Athens.

Bolt has previously said he is unsure whether he will compete in both the 100 and 200 at the Beijing Olympics next month.

Asked if he would be going for the 200 world record of 19.32, which Johnson set in August 1996, Bolt said not yet.

“Not this year, maybe next,” he said.

The Jamaican also had the previous best time of the year in the 200, running 19.83 in June in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Sunday’s time beat his personal best of 19.75, set at altitude last year.

In the 100, Derrick Atkins of the Bahamas won in 10.10, finishing ahead of Darvis Patton and Mark Jelks of the United States.

“This is my second win in a row here in Athens and I am very proud,” Atkins said.

Atkins, runner-up at last year’s World Championships, surged in the second half of the race to win easily. Fearing disqualification after a false start, the sprinters were slow getting out of the blocks and ran into a slight head wind.

“[I was] tired after strong races at the U.S. champs,” Patton said. “My next race will be in London. In Beijing, I want to win a medal.”

In the 110 hurdles, world record holder Dayron Robles set a meet record by winning in 13.04 seconds.

“Getting the Olympic gold medal is the most important thing to me, because it’s something you can only do every four years,” the Cuban said. “I know Liu [Xiang] will be difficult to beat. The people love him in China and he’s a good person.”

Robles ran a 12.87 last month, bettering Liu’s previous mark of 12.89.