LONDON: Jamaica's Usain Bolt ran the second-fastest 200m in the world this year as he won the London Super Grand Prix event in a time of 19.76 sec at Crystal Palace here Saturday.

The 21-year-old, who in May set a new 100m world record with a time of 9.72 sec, finished well ahead of American Wallace Spearmon and Paul Hession of Ireland.

Bolt has still to confirm whether he will run in both sprint events at the Beijing Olympics and indicated yet again after Saturday's race he would leave the decision to his coach, Glen Mills.

"I'm still not sure about doubling up in Beijing," said Bolt. "I'm still waiting to see what's going on. My coach will make the decision.

"I'd definitely like to double - I think I could do well in both.

"But my coach hasn't made a bad decision in five years, so if he says I can do only one, I'll do one."

No one has won both the men's 100m and 200m at the same Olympic Games since Carl Lewis of the United States in Los Angeles in 1984.

Meanwhile, Britain's Kelly Sotherton, one of the favorites for heptathlon gold in Beijing now that defending champion Carolina Kluft has decided to concentrate on the long jump and triple jump, came through a minor injury scare to win the four-event challenge.

Sotherton, 31, damaged her right abductor muscle on Friday's opening day when an extraordinary error by officials saw the third barrier in the 100m hurdles placed in the wrong position.

That first day, which had started so encouragingly for Sotherton with a long jump personal best of 6.79m, ended with the 2004 Olympic bronze medalist finishing fourth in the re-run hurdles.

But Saturday saw Sotherton come through both the shot put and the 200m where she finished second in a time of 23.63 sec despite not going at full pace.

"It was great to win this weekend," said Sotherton. "My jump was fantastic, the shot was good as well and despite not being able to run as hard as I normally would round the bend in the 200m because of an injury I picked up in the hurdles, I still got close to a season's best."

She added: "The hurdles yesterday (Friday) were obviously very frustrating. I hurt my abductor muscle jumping that third hurdle and it could have been really serious.

"My doctor and physio both told me not to run today (Saturday).

"But I wanted to run and to get that time when I couldn't go flat out is obviously encouraging. Overall I think the weekend has shown that I'm on the up and on course for Beijing.

In a close women's 100m final, Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell won in 10.87 sec from fellow Jamaican Shelly Ann Fraser, who clocked 10.95.

Americans Marshevet Hooker and the 31-year-old Torri Edwards, world champion in 2003 and holder of this year's world leading 10.78, were third and fourth, respectively.

Campbell, whose time was just 0.02 sec slower than her personal best and was her fastest of the year, said: "I'm in a great position to defend my 200m title in Beijing."

In a high-standard men's pole vault competition, winner Yevgeniy Lukyanenko of Russia, the world indoor champion, and Australia's Commonwealth champion Steve Hooker attempted to clear 6.02m but fell short.

Both cleared 5.97m while American Brad Walker, who holds the year's best of 6.04, had to settle for equal third with Germany's Alexander Starub after clearing 5.72.

Walker was not too disappointed, saying: "My preparation is good, just a few tweaks here and there and I'll be ready to go (in Beijing). It's going to take a six-meter jump to win the Olympics."

Martyn Rooney raised British hopes ahead of the Olympic men's 400m with a personal best of 44.83, beating Canada's world indoor champion Tyler Christopher (45.29) into second place.

Source:China Daily/Agencies