Bolt roadshow continues at Golden League

The presence of Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt has guaranteed that the fifth of the six-leg Golden League on Friday will be a sell-out after his treble world gold medal haul.

The Letzigrund Stadium has long sold out its 26,000 tickets, largely based around an expectant crowd who will be treated to the stars of the recently-concluded World Athletic Championships in Berlin.

Bolt, who set new world records in the 100 and 200m (9.58 and 19.19 seconds), will not however be up against American Tyson Gay, who claimed silver in the worlds 100m but did not compete further after aggrevating a groin injury.

Despite his warning that he was not hunting a new world record after his blistering 100m run in Berlin, nothing can be taken for granted with Bolt up against compatriot Asafa Powell, Americans Darvis Patton and Michael Rodgers, and the Trinidad and Tobago duo of Richard Thompson and Marc Burns.

Powell equalled a then-world record of 9.77sec in Zurich three years ago, and spectators can be guaranteed a thrilling spectacle no matter what Bolt promised after the worlds.

Bolt aside, there will be a host of world winners on show, not least Kenenisa Bekele, who emulated his Olympic double with a world double in the 5000-10,000m.

The fact that the Zurich meeting falls so soon after Berlin is a bonus for both athletes and organisers hoping to showcase a world record time, and Bekele was in buoyant mood. "My shape is very good," the 27-year-old said. "If the weather remains okay on Friday I want to make a good time in Zurich. "After I changed plans in Berlin and doubled at the World Championships, the world record will be difficult to achieve. Maybe I try." Athletes' coordinator Bettina Borner, in reference to last season's meet just after the Beijing Olympics, said: "This year, travel will not represent such a burden.

"The athletes will be in top shape immediately after the world championships, and they will be looking for fast races."

Unlike Bolt, Bekele is one of four athletes still on course for the one-million-dollar Golden League jackpot for winning all their races on the circuit this season.

In the women's events, Jamaican Kerron Stewart and American Sanya Richards remain unbeaten in the 100m and 400m respectively.

The fourth athlete unbeaten so far on the Golden League circuit is Russian Yelena Isinbayeva, who caused the biggest shock in the worlds when she suffered just her second loss in six years after failing to nail a single vault, failing to even make the podium.

Other mouth-watering duels set for Friday will feature American Lashawn Merritt facing off against compatriot Jeremy Wariner in the men's 400m.

In the men's 110m hurdles, world champion Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados comes up against the American quartet of Terrence Trammell, David Payne, David Oliver and Aries Merritt.

And in the women's 100m, Stewart will be up against American Carmelita Jeter and Shelly-Ann Fraser of Jamaica, the Jamaican who just last week added the world title to her Olympic crown. ZURICH, Thursday, AFP