Bailey looks to move out of Bolt’s shadow

Jamaica’s Oshane Bailey was fastest over 100m in the Commonweath Games heats on Wednesday as the young Jamaican looks to move out of Usain Bolt’s shadow.

The 21-year-old failed to crack the magical 10 second barrier on a hot and humid night in Delhi, but he did enough with his 10.12 to show potential.

It made him the leading runner into Thursday’s semifinals.

Bailey has always played second fiddle to world record holder Bolt and fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell and with both men missing the Games he wants to make a name for himself here.

“Right now Bolt is the fastest but he’s beatable,” he said.

“A lot of people do not know me but that’s why I am here to win gold and establish myself as a 100m sprinter.”

Nigeria’s Egwero Oghoghene was second quickest in 10.13 with another promising sprinter, Sam Effah of Canada, third in 10.15.

Effah has run a personal best of 10.06 this year and said recently: “I know there’s more in the tank.”

“I hope to run for a long, long time - the Commonwealth Games, World Championships, London 2012 and beyond that.”

England’s Mark Lewis-Francis, a former world junior champion who scored a European championships silver in July, also made the grade.

He clocked a season-best 10.15 in his opening heat before a 10.20 in his second heat.

“I’m enjoying my championships. To be performing like this in October at the end of a long season I’m over the moon,” he said.

“I still had to train after winning the European silver. I’m just humble and over the moon. I’m happy to be in this shape.”