Ato Boldon ran himself into the record books in his Olympic first round 100m heat in Sydney today when he set a new stadium record. Maurice Green and Donovan Bailey have also eased into the second round. The 26-year-old Trinidadian smiled when it was announced that his 10.04sec dash was the fastest ever seen in the Stadium Australia, the multi-million dollar center piece of the Sydney Olympics.
But his dash cost him money.
He had bet with world record holder Maurice Greene of the United States which of them would qualify with the slowest time but in the end he decided to forgo the money. “I just let myself go. I tried to shut it down but it is a great track,” said Boldon.
But he knows it will take more than 10.04 to overpower Greeene, who is also his training partner, come tomorrow night's final.
Greene clocked 10.31 in his heat but knew the time was not important. “I'm just having fun,” beamed Greene afterwards.
“I'm enjoying myself. I have to stay relaxed. I'm not putting any pressure on myself. I know what I am capable of,” he added. Bureau Report