#ReturnToLondon: Bolt leads 100m men into semis, Forbes tackles long jump final

The moment track and field fans in Jamaica and across the Globe have been waiting for is set to unfold this afternoon at the 16th IAAF World Athletic Championships in London.

Jamaica’s world record holder Usain Bolt will seek to end his legendary career with a golden run in the men’s 100m.

Before that, however, Frederick Dacres could land Jamaica’s first medal of the championships when he competes in the final of the men's discus throw. He will be joined in the final by compatriot, Travis Smikle.

Dacres has the second longest throw in the world this year, with a mark of 68.88 metres, behind Sweden’s Daniel Stahl, who has registered a mark of 71.29 metres.

The discus final is set to start at 1:26 local time.

The other Jamaican in with a medal chance today is long jumper Demar Forbes. He will compete in the finals, which gets underway at 2:05 local time.

Bolt, in the meantime, will have to get past the semi-final stage of his event before he can focus on his final 100m race at a major championship.

The semi-finals are set to begin at 1:05 local time and Bolt will be joined by three other Jamaicans, Yohan Blake and Julian Forte.

Bolt is scheduled to run out of lane 6 in semi-final three while Blake will run out of lane 4 in semi-final two. Forte will run out of lane 5 in the first semi-final that also features top American sprinter Justin Gatlin.

The final of the men’s 100m is set to be run at 3:45 local time and will bring the curtains down on day two of the championships.

Name: Usain Bolt

Date of Birth: August 21, 1986

Events: 100m

Season’s Best: 100m, 9.95; Personal Best: 100m- 9.58 and 200m- 19.19

School: William Knibb High

Coach: Glen Mills

Track Club: Racers Track Club

Accolades: Nine-time Olympic Champion and 11 –time World Champion

Name: Travis Smickle

Date of Birth: May 7, 1992

Event: Discus Throw

Season’s best: 65.00; personal best: 67.12

School: Calabar High

Coach: Julian Robinson

 Accolade: Two times National champion

Name: Fedrick Dacres

Date of Birth: February 28, 1994

Event: Discus throw, Shot put

Season’s best: Shot put-20.46, Discus throw-68.88; personal best: Shot put-20.46, Discus throw-68.88

School: Calabar High

Coach: Julian Robinson

Accolades: World Junior Champion, World Youth champion and three-time national champion

Name: Julian Forte

Date of Birth: January 07, 1993

Events: 100m,

Season’s best: 100m-9.99; personal best: 100m- 9.99

School: Wolmer’s Boys High

Coach: Stephen Francis

Track Club: MVP

Name: Yohan Blake

Date of Birth: December 26, 1989

Events: 100m, 200m and 400m

Seasonal Best: 100m- 9.93 and 400m: 47.42; personal Best: 100m: 9.69-200m- 19.26 and 400m-46.32

School: St. Jago High

 Coach: Glen Mills

Track Club: Racers Track Club

Accolades: 2011 World 100m champion, 2012 Olympic Games 100m and 200m silver medallist