PREVIEW: Bolt goes to work on legend status, Bekele eyes fifth title

By John Bagratuni Aug 27, 2011, 8:04 GMT

Daegu, South Africa - Usain Bolt may not be in the shape of 2008 and 2009, but remains the all-out favourite in a heavily depleted field for another world title in the blue riband 100 metres sprint on Sunday.

With his four biggest rivals not present owing to injury and doping suspensions, the Jamaican superstar appears to have a free ride to a seventh major title following 100m, 200m and 4x100m trebles at the 2008 Olympics and 2009 worlds.

Defending his world titles from Berlin in the upcoming days in Daegu, and his Beijing Olympic titles next year at the London Games is what he requires in his self-proclaimed aim for legend status.

'The world championship is the first step to become a legend. I am very focussed to win. I am working on it ... Few people have repeated. It is important to defend the titles. I have set a high standard for myself,' Bolt said.

Coming off an injury-plagued 2010 campaign, Bolt is only the sixth-fastest man this year in the dash with 9.88 seconds, three tenth slower than his world record 9.58 seconds.

However, the four fastest men of 2011 are not at Daegu stadium, with season leader Asafa Powell (9.78 seconds) out injured along with Tyson Gay, while Steve Mullings and Michael Rodgers are suspended in the wake of positive doping tests.

Americans Walter Dix and Justin Gatlin, the latter being the 2005 world champion back from a four-year-doping ban, as well as Jamaica's Yonan Blake are medal contenders, but not expected to challenge Bolt even though he doesn't expect another world record.

'This is the comeback season. I am not in 9.5-second shape but I can run fast,' Bolt said. 'I am fine. It is a challenge getting back into shape. Technically I am not 100 per cent but I am almost there.'

Most of the attention on the day will centre on Bolt, but there plenty more to watch.

Oscar Pistorius will become the first amputee runner at the worlds when he competes in the 400m heats which also see the return of world and Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt from a 21-month doping ban.

Kenenisa Bekele aims to upstage his mentor Haile Gebrselassie with a fifth straight 10,000m gold, but the Ethiopian's form is unclear in the wake of injury. Briton Mo Farah is the fastest man of the year and could give Europe its first medal - possibly gold - in the event since 1987.

Brittney Reese of the US is fancied to defend her long jump title while compatriots Ashton Eaton and Trey Hardee (holder) are tipped to battle out the decathlon champ. China also eye two golds, given that Wang Zhen leads the 20km walk season rankings and Li Yanfeng the women's discus list.