TRACK & FIELD : Former American sprinter Williams says Usain Bolt will beat Justin Gatlin at World Champs in Beijing

PAUL A REID Observer Writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com  Wednesday, June 24, 2015    
FORMER American sprinter Steve Williams is backing double World Record holder Usain Bolt to beat Justin Gatlin when they eventually meet later this year at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China.
Bolt
In a recent interview with the Jamaica Observer at Icahn Stadium in New York, the venue for the most recent IAAF Diamond League meeting two weeks ago, Williams, who like Bolt, is well over six feet tall, said Bolt's quality and experience running fast times gave the big Jamaican the edge.
"I have always believed that if you have a certain speed in your tank, you can run slower than that and still win; Bolt still has the record at a big enough number that on a bad day from his personal record he should still win," Williams said.
It was difficult for the 61-year-old, who battled Jamaican Olympic champion Donald Quarrie over several years in some epic sprint races, to disguise his absolute delight in finally meeting Bolt, the double World Record holder.
"I enjoy watching him compete as a big man," Williams told said. "To have mastered all the techniques, including the great starts at his height, is truly an achievement in itself."
Usain Bolt (left) and Steve Williams
 share a joke at the Grand
 Hyatt Hotel in New York
 two weeks ago. (PHOTO: PAUL REID)
He dismissed Bolt's sluggish 20.29 seconds in the 200m, the athlete's slowest time since 2006. "Today you know he wasn't challenged, he knew he wasn't challenged, when you spend the early part of the year slowly building into shape that's what you are supposed to do. He is on course; I was watching the race with (Bolt's coach Glen) Mills and you could see he knew he had some work to do; he had things he wanted to say but they know each other and they trust each other," said the former sprinter.
Williams would know a thing or two about setting world records as he did on four occasions between 1973 and 1976. He lowered the 100m record and also had world marks in the 100 and 220-yard dashes. more

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