• Athletics

Blake wants big money Bolt showdown

ESPN staff
August 24, 2012
Yohan Blake and Usain Bolt are unlikely to race each other again in 2012 © Getty Images
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Yohan Blake laid down the gauntlet to Usain Bolt after storming to a lifetime best at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne.

The 100m world champion was upstaged by friend and training partner Bolt at London 2012, but gave a stark reminder of what he is capable of as he ran 9.69 seconds - the third-fastest time in history - to win the 100m.

Bolt and Blake were kept apart, with the Olympic champion winning the 200m easily in a time of 19.58s. However, Blake said he would jump at the chance to race Bolt, but only if a large prize money pot was up for grabs.

"I would run with Usain any day, he's my training partner," Blake said. "I would love to run with him, but they have to put up big money."

As the season begins to tail off after the Olympics, Bolt admits he and Blake are unlikely to race each other again this season.

"I don't think we really want to run against each other for the rest of the season," he said. "Also, my coach didn't want us to run together. If we had to we would, because it's just another competition, but the Olympic Games are already gone so it doesn't really matter. I think next season will be more fun and you'll see us run against each other at the end of the season."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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