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Associated Press

Usain Bolt set the stage for his grand farewell, powering down the finishing straight on Saturday to qualify Jamaica for the 4x100-metre relay final at the world championships.
Fittingly, he will face Justin Gatlin and the United States in the final chapter of his unparalleled career.
Both nations won their heats early on Saturday, though the US relay squad got the baton around with more aplomb than Jamaica, which had to rely on Bolt to clinch victory.
And Bolt relished the adulation at the 60,000-capacity Olympic Stadium.
“They’ve been outstanding so far, and continue to surprise me and give me energy,” Bolt said.
For the best part of the past decade, though, Bolt has been 100 per cent reliable in getting relay gold for the island nation. The last time Jamaica lost a world championship final was in Bolt’s rookie year in 2007, when he ran the second leg and only took silver behind the Americans.
Ever since, Bolt has flaunted his power at the end of every major championship, getting the third gold medal for himself and sometimes another world record for Jamaica.

This year, however, he only got bronze in the 100 behind Gatlin. And the result in the relay is no longer a foregone conclusion.
The United States, with Gatlin running the second leg, won the first heat in a world leading time of 37.70 seconds. The Americans beat Britain and Japan, both of which also qualified.
“My team did a great job,” said Gatlin, the oldest of the squad at 35. “They’re thinking and acting like veterans and I’m proud of them.”
Salute to a legend: Usain Bolt bids farewell in final Jamaican race
Christian Coleman took silver in the 100 ahead of Bolt and it gave the US team an added boost.
“Having the gold and silver medal on the same relay team, which hasn’t been done in a long time, it gives us kind of a confidence booster that the speed can get around the track,” Gatlin said.
Bolt stepped out on the track for the second heat, and the Jamaicans needed him. Trailing when he got the baton on the anchor leg, Bolt powered away, quickly swept past his rivals and had time to look to his right before crossing in 37.95 seconds.

Still, Bolt was supportive of his young teammates.
“They came out here and did the job we wanted them to do, and that’s to get us to the finals. They executed and ran well for a young team,” Bolt said. “Over the years, this will be the team bringing in the golds.”
Justin Gatlin takes gold before paying respect to departing Usain Bolt at world championships
In the women’s heats, both nations are also through.
Allyson Felix stayed in line to become the athlete with the most medals in world championships history when she helped the American relay team qualify.
Running the second leg, Felix and her teammates crossed first in a season’s leading time of 41.84 seconds, beating Britain and Switzerland. They also advanced to the final.

In the second heat, Germany beat two-time defending champion Jamaica to qualify along with Brazil.
The Netherlands, with 200-metre champion Dafne Schippers running the second leg, qualified on time.
Felix has won 14 medals at the world championships and can move up to 16 if she runs the 4x400 relay and the United States wins medals in both events.
In the decathlon, two-time world champion Trey Hardee of the United States hit the third hurdle and clattered into the next one during the 110-metre hurdles to end his medal chances.
‘I just want to retire on a winning note’: track king Usain Bolt eyes final hurrah at world championships in London
In the first of five events on the final day of the two-day competition, Kevin Mayer of France set a third personal record to easily stay atop the standings with 5,485 points. Rico Freimuth of Germany was in second place with 5,377 points, while Damian Warner of Canada had the fastest time in the hurdles of 13.63 seconds to move into third.
Also, British runner Mo Farah will compete in his last race on the track at a major championship when he goes for a fourth straight world title in the 5,000. He won a third 10,000-metre gold on the first day of the championships.



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Usain Bolt

Bolt gets Jamaica into the relay final for grand farewell

Jamaica's Usain Bolt (centre) races to the finish line on the anchor leg ahead of Canada's Mobolade Ajomale (right) and Cuba's Jose Luis Gaspar (left) to win their heat in the men's 4x100m relay. Photo: AFP

Athletics - World Athletics Championships – women’s 4 x 400 meters relay heats – London Stadium, London, Britain – August 12, 2017 – Usain Bolt Jamaica cheers during the women's competition. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

epa06139680 Usain Bolt (L) of Jamaica runs down the final straight in the men's 4x100m at the London 2017 IAAF World Championships in London, Britain, 12 August 2017. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON

Jamaica's Usain Bolt (L) takes the baton from team-mate Michael Campbell (2L) as Canada's Brendon Rodney (R) hands over to his team-mate Canada's Mobolade Ajomale (2R) in the men's 4x100m relay athletics event at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London on August 12, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Glyn KIRK

epa06139637 Jamaica's Usain Bolt (L) jokes with the official mascot of the IAAF World Championships London 2017, Hero the Hedgehog (R) after competing in the men's 4x100m Relay heats at the London 2017 IAAF World Championships in London, Britain, 12 August 2017. EPA/SEAN DEMPSEY

'Bad guy' tag doesn't bother me: Justin Gatlin before World Championships 

American sprinter Justin Gatlin is hungry as ever to secure gold at the World Championships in Beijing, which start today. Photo: EPA


In Eugene, Oregon, Justin Gatlin runs to victory in the men's 200 metre race in June. Photo: AFP

Justin Gatlin takes a selfie after winning the 100m men's race  at the Herculis International Athletics Meeting at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco on July 17. Photo: AP 

Why beating Justin Gatlin at the athletics world championships could turn out to be Usain Bolt’s most important victory

Usain Bolt points to the sky before the start. Photo: EPA

Former world 200m record holder Michael Johnson is in awe of Usain Bolt's latest performance. Photo: Reuters

Usain Bolt leaps out of his starting blocks alongside Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin. Photo: AFP

Usain Bolt delivers his trademark gesture. Photo:  AFP

Sport

Other Sport

Superstar sprinter is set for a golden finale to his magnificent career as he anchors team to the final of the 4x100m relay at the worlds in London
