Olympic Athletics - Men's 100m

[stereoman]

Yesterday evening's Bettingzone Market News:

2115: Sky Bet make Asafa Powell even money to beat Tyson Gay in Friday night's eagerly-anticipated 100metres dual at Crystal Palace after he defeated the world's fastest man Usain Bolt at the IAAF Super Grand Prix meeting in Stockholm.

The ex-world record holder posted a season's best of 9.88secs to finish one hundredth of a second ahead of his fellow Jamaican tonight and prove he'll certainly be in the hunt for gold in Beijing next month.

Looking ahead to the London Grand Prix, which begins on Friday, Sky Bet make America's Gay 8/11 favourite to win the race while Bolt, who clocked 9.72 at the end of May, goes in the 200m.

Sky Bet are offering 10/1 that either the 100m or 200m record is broken at the fast Crystal Palace track and with the three fastest men on the planet in action, that could well be a possibility.

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Hmmm. Bolt didn't run well out of the blocks and Powell eased up? The difference was 1/100th a second?

[trickrick]

I think you'll find that it was Bolt that eased up allowing Powell the victory after giving him about a 3 yard start !!!

I can only be more confident as a Bolt fan for the Olympic 100 metres gold.

Should be interesting this Friday at Crystal Palace although I expect Gay to blow away Powell in the 100 metres..8/11 could be a fair but not exactly exciting price.

[stereoman]

Today's Bettingzone Market News:

1100: Simeon Williamson is 40/1, from 66/1 with Ladbrokes to win an Olympic 100 metres medal.

The Harrow-based firm originally quoted 66/1 about the trio of British sprint hopefuls - including Tyronne Edgar and Craig Pickering - bagging a podium finish.

But punters reckon the Highgate Harrier represents Team GB's best chance of a medal in the blue riband event.

Usain Bolt is the 11/8 favourite to claim the title.

Ladbrokes spokesman Nick Weinberg said: "There are early signs of a patriotic plunge on Williamson. We've seen money for him in the last 48 hours whilst Edgar and Pickering are friendless."

Team GB are still 10/1 to hit their target of 41 medals and 4/7 to return home with ten or more golds.

Weinberg added: "Punters have been all over the 10/1 about the team hitting their medal target. They're clearly more optimistic about GB's chances than we are."

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To put it politely...I don't think so.

[stereoman]

Hmmm. Good news if you're a Tyson Gay supporter.

Sprinter Asafa Powell 'weakened' by Beijing Olympic blood tests - Telegraph

[stereoman]

1100: Sky Bet make it an 11/4 chance that the world record is broken in Saturday's men's 100metres final at the Olympics.

The 'big three' of Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay all cruised to victory in the heats.

World-record holder Bolt from Jamaican jogged to a time of 10.20 in the opening heat, while Powell recorded 10.16 in his heat and double world champion Gay tested out his previously injured hamstring with a time of 10.22.

Sky Bet quote 11/4 about the world record going in the final and also make it 5/6 that the winning time is 9.82 seconds or lower.

And those who reckon there will be a false start can get 2/5 (7/4 for there not to be).

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Hmmm. It looks like a 'fast track'. Usain and Asafa cruise and slow down to 9.92 and 10.02 respectively, and Tyson didn't seem too bothered clocking 10.09 in the second round just gone by BUT he may be aggravated by that hamstring injury he sustained in the US trials.

A world record could be on and 9.82 looks likely to be smashed pretty easily so the 11am update is already out-of-date.

Sky Bet react by making Usain Bolt the prohibitive best-priced 4/5 favourite whilst William Hill make Asafa Powell 9/4 and Tyson Gay 10/1 (!?). It's 50/1 the field!

Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago clocked 9.99 ahead of Tyson Gay and could be the one to bet on in the market without the big three of Bolt, Gay and Powell.

[stereoman]

More Bettingzone Market News:

1415: Following the second round 100 metre heats, the impressive Usain Bolt has been slashed to 1/5 favourite by William Hill to win Gold and 8/11 to break his own world record (Evens not to).

Hills now make Asafa Powell 9/2 second favourite with Tyson Gay out to 10/1 third best.

Stan James are a top-priced 2/7 about Bolt.

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Gawd I'm pissed I didn't take that 9/2 in the middle of the night when Usain Bolt won in New York back in May.

[trickrick]

Originally Posted by stereoman

Gawd I'm pissed I didn't take that 9/2 in the middle of the night when Usain Bolt won in New York back in May.

Well I'm more than happy with the 7/4 I got on 7th July

[trickrick]

..I thought the 100 metres was a sprint not a jog..!

Bolt does this 2nd round run in 9.92 seconds as well

[YOUTUBE]0m4rlmbP6g0[/YOUTUBE]

[stereoman]

Tyson Gay finishes fifth in the first semi-final and is OUT!! Asafa Powell wins the heat fairly comfortably in a time of 9.90 seconds though.

[stereoman]

BOLT WINS!! 9.69s!! THOMPSON SECOND!!

[keemanan]

That was amazing , simply incredible . Celebrating with 10 meters left and still breaks the world record.

I'm betting looking than him though so it's swings and roundabouts

[Winrew]

And not forgetting your modesty..

[trickrick]

Heck it's self indulgent, and maybe 7/4 isnt the biggest price, but when Bolt ends up being 1/10 to win the gold at the end, I'm actually mightily pleased..

Originally Posted by trickrick

I'm not sure that Gay is injured too badly, although there is talk of his 100 metre bid in doubt. That said this could all be spin as it appears it was only severe cramp of the left hamstring that cost him a place in the 200 metres due to the harsh US trial rules. A psychological blow as much as anything as he cannot repeat his 100/200m double of the World Championship..

One person who certainly can attain the Olympic double is Usain 'Lightning' Bolt He is the 200 metre specialist, but the way he has been tearing up the 100 metres has been impressive. To look at him you would think he isnt quite the 100 metre world record holder. Tall and bulky, but his power is explosive... He still hasnt fully committed to the 100 metres, but surely there is no better incentive then to do the double with Gay out of the 200 metres..?

Ok, Gay did 9.68 , although it was wind assisted, but still... You couldnt split them based on that, but with the 'injury' and the fact that the Bolt looked mightyly impressive in the Jamiacan trials (the the way to slowed down around 20 metres to go, outrunning Poweell and still clocked 9.85 was vey impressive..)

The consensus is with some of the bookies that the 'injury' was the blip and with the 9.68 time Gay is the fave, but the Bolt is looking good as well and 7/4 in what I think is a 2-horse race (Powell won't catch them up, no matter what he says about building up gradually for the games,) is a nice price still, as you just don't know what really is the njury with Gay...

The Lightning Bolt to win the 100m Olympic Gold - 20 pt stake @ 7/4 (Corals)