体坛英语新闻：Bolt eases into final of 200m in Berlin

BERLIN, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt cruised into final of men's 200m with ease on Wednesday at the 12th world athletic championships in Berlin.

    Bolt clocked 20.08s to be first in his heat group, but the legendary sprinter deliberately slowed down his pace in the last 20 meters.

    Without possible rival of defending champion Tyson Gay, who announced earlier Monday night that he decided to skip the half-lap sprint to focus on the relay instead, Bolt's sole rival at the final might be the clock -- whether he would rewrite his record of 19.30 seconds in Beijing Olympics a year ago.

    On Wednesday evening, despite a sluggish start with reaction time of 0.177s, Bolt strove to lead the group after around 20 meters. When his dominance was unchallengeable at around 20 meters from the finish line, the 23-year-old slowed down his pace, but still boasted the fastest among 16 semi-finalists.

Jamaica's Usain Bolt competes during the men's 200m semifinal of the 2009 IAAF Athletics World Championships in Berlin, Germany, Aug. 19, 2009. Bolt clocked 20.08 seconds and was qualified for the final.

    "I am feeling much better than yesterday," said Bolt, who had complaint of "tiredness" at the heatings on Tuesday.

    Looking ahead, Bolt shunned from promising a new world record.

    "As far as the 200m are concerned and a new WR? I have really not done the same amount of work like I did for the 100m," he said.

    Among the sprinters on Wednesday's semi-final, Osaka bronze medallist Wallace Spearmon from the U.S. clocked 20,14 seconds, the first from the second heat group.

    The final of men's 200m is to stage Thursday night at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

    Bolt's birthday falls on Friday, but the talented sprinter said he did not plan a party.

    "I will have the day for myself, but I cannot do a lot because the 4x100m relay is on Saturday. Yet, I will not run the relay heats on Friday," he said.