Jamaica Trackstar 'Bolts' In 2010 Penn Relays

 

PHILADELPHIA - It may not have been the World Series or the Super Bowl but for a sizable crowd in University City, it was even better. Usain Bolt, the fastest runner in the world, took to the track at the Penn Relays for the first time since he won gold at the Olympics. FOX29 Reporter Claudia Gomez has the story from University City.
 
When Usain Bolt stepped onto the infield Saturday, you would have thought the world's biggest rock star just showed up.
 
The Penn Relays draw an impressive crowd every spring. But Bolt's appearance turned the track meet into something more. Jeremy Efthimiades of West Milford is a high school senior he said, "I'd say the entire population of Jamaica is here. They're all cheering for him."
 
Maybe not the entire population, but more than a few Jamaicans flew north to see bolt run-- including Jamaican broadcasters.
 
Jamaican broadcaster David Casanova said, "It does lift our spirits, when we're down... I can tell you back home, everybody's glued to their television set right now. It's as if it's the Olympics all over again."
 
He is their hero, a legend now on the scale of bob Marley, an inspiration for an entire nation. Keisha Keane Dawes traveled from Spanishtown, Jamaica to see Bolt in action. "Motivation for us to excel to the fullest, do our best, and show the world that we're all great," Dawes said.
 
Even longtime fans who've been coming here for decades, like Bill Doyle since 1958. Doyle said," I was in it at that time; know what they're about to see will be memorable."
 
"That's the thing about up close and personal. You can only watch on TV on the Olympics. But this'll be... You won't be able to hear yourself think."
 
He was right. Bolt ran the anchor leg of the four by 100-- an electrifying sprint that broke a Penn Relays record, and brought the crowd to its feet.
 
"Usain Bolt, when he runs, the world watches," Cassonova said.
 
"When he finally came on TV and started running, he was just a huge inspiration, watching him run," Efthimiades said. "He's really big, compared to any football player, baseball player that I know."
 
Usain Bolt rewarded his many fans with a victory lap, and his trademark pose -a lightning bolt. And almost as quickly as he ran, the moment ended-- and yet for many at this year's Penn Relays it will last a lifetime.