Jose Ramon, managing director of Nissan, Latin America and the Caribbean, hands over the keys for a new Nissan GT-R sports car to Usain Bolt at the Usain Bolt Track, Mona Bowl, University of the West Indies, yesterday. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer
Mel Cooke, Gleaner WriterUSAIN Bolt, the 100 and 200m world record holder, will definitely be competing in the shorter sprint at the Cayman Invitational.
Speaking to the press yesterday at the track which bears his name, Bolt explained in person why he skipped Saturday's Jamaica International Invitational (JII) meet held at the National Stadium.
"I had a slight injury in training and decided not to take part," Bolt said.
He also outlined why, despite that absence, he will be running at the Cayman Invitational on Wednesday.
"My coach and I decided I should go to Cayman and run," Bolt said, as he will compete in the 100m. "It is much less pressure running on the straight."
Bolt was speaking at the handing-over ceremony for a customised gold-coloured Nissan GT-R, held at the Mona Bowl, UWI.
Last Tuesday, it was announced that Bolt would be pulling out of this year's staging of the JII, as had Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell before him. That announcement was made through a press release, in which he noted his disappointment and the nature of the injury.
DISAPPOINTED
"I am disappointed to miss the Kingston meet, as I love running in front of my home crowd in Jamaica," the release stated.
"I'm told it is only a Grade One strain, so hopefully I will be OK soon."
The release had also noted that Bolt was looking to recover in time for the Cayman Invitational.
Yesterday, however, the Olympic sprint double champion explained that he trained throughout the week, ran on Saturday and it was good, so the decision was taken to go to Cayman.
Also, he was asked to comment on American Tyson Gay's winning 100-metre clocking of 9.86 at the JII on Saturday.
Bolt said it was a good time, noting that Gay has run that fast before so it was another run in that bracket for the American.