The Bolt All-Stars (BAS) narrowly edged out host team Australia, to top the standings on Night One of the highly anticipated Coles Nitro Athletics series, which kicked off at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne on Saturday, 4th February.
Six teams competed in 12 events, with each team consisting of 12 men and 12 women
working with unified strength to generate maximum power in order to gain team points.
According to nitroathletics.com.au, “The main focus of the series of events will be on the athlete’s ability to apply speed and power, technique, endurance and team strategy”. Also, the point system focuses on team performance rather than the individual.
The highlight of the evening was the Mixed 4x100m Relay, which saw Bolt All-Stars Captain, multiple World Record (WR) holder Usain Bolt in action. Asafa Powell ran the first leg, while Bolt took the second, powering on before handing the baton to USA’s Jenna Prandini, while Jeneba Tarmoh completed the task for BAS, winning the race in 40.64s.
Japan was 2nd in 42.36s, as Australia placed 3rd with a time of 42.45s. China and England were 4th and 5th respectively, while New Zealand Did Not Finish (DNF). The BAS had to work hard for their victory though, as Australia followed hard after them.
BAS placed 2nd in the’s Women’s 60m, 2nd in the Women’s 100m Ambulatory, 1st in the Women’s 150m, 2nd in the Women’s 1 Mile Elimination, and 3rd in the Women’s 100m Hurdles.
The team dominated the Men’s 60m, Men’s Long Jump and Women’s Javelin throw courtesy of Asafa Powell, Jarrion Lawson and Kara Winger, then finished 4th and 5th respectively in the Men’s 150m and Men’s 100m Ambulatory.
BAS also won the Men’s 1 Mile Elimination but lost some points in the Men’s Pole Vault after Mark Hollis failed to clear any height at his second attempt. They went on to win the Mixed 2x1000m Relay, and placed 2nd in the Mixed 2x300m Relay.
However. they finished 6th in the Mixed Distance Medley, which was won by Australia’s quartet of Morgan Mitchell, Luke Stevens, Annaliese Rubie and Ryan Gregson.
At the end of the evening, BAS secured a total of 1080 points, just 30 points clear of Australia who followed in 2nd. China was 3rd with 845 points and Japan 4th with a total of 810 points.
New Zealand and England finished in 5th and 6th respectively with 795 and 735points. The series continues on February 9th, with the final meeting to hold on February 11th.
