SHERWOOD CONTENT, Trelawny - Family, friends and neighbours started arriving at the home of Usain Bolt's aunt, Lillian Bolt-Smith, in this deep rural north-western district from as early as 8:00 am yesterday.

By 9:00 am every spot in front of the television set was taken, as even local media correspondents jostled for space.
At 9:30 am, the entire community came to a standstill. But just under 10 seconds later, the normally quiet district erupted into scenes of wild celebration as their hero, 21-year-old Usain Bolt, crossed the finish line in the Men's 100m final, setting a new World and Olympic record of 9.69 seconds.

Usain Bolt's aunt, Lillian Bolt-Smith (right), his father, Wellesley (2nd right) and sister, Christine Bolt-Hylton, as well as family friend Kingsley Titer celebrate his Olympic 100m victory at Lillian's home in Sherwood Content, Trelawny yesterday morning, while watching the race on television. (Photos: Paul Reid)

Cellular phones, and even a small child, were left behind as people ran outside to celebrate the victory.

"Three gold medals on the cards now," Usain's father, Wellesley, predicted, as he sat in a couch inches from the television set.
"That was a very good start and that did it. He is running, oh God, oh my Father, that was great and he broke the World Record, that was the bonus," the elder Bolt rattled off as microphones were pushed towards him to capture instant reaction to his son's achievement.

In the background, Usain's sister, Christine Bolt-Hylton, was demanding payment for a bet she made with her father. "I told you, daddy. Pay me. I told you," she said as Lillian complained about Usain's late race antics while waving two massive Jamaican flags. "He is running and still looking at them," she said in reference to Bolt's celebratory turn to look at the other competitors before crossing the finish line.

Wellesley, who has been exposed to the media spotlight over the past six years since Usain became the youngest person to win a global gold medal when he took the 200m event at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Kingston, didn't need any prompting. "He is the first Jamaican to win the 100 metres at the Olympics," he said.

Later he predicted that his son would win the 200m. "That will be much easier, barring any problems," he said. "There is no one there to test him and he has the three fastest times in the world this year, so he should win this one."

Congratulations came fast and furious, and while everyone said the win was not totally unexpected, they were obviously overjoyed.
Olympian Pablo McNeil, one of the coaches who guided Bolt as a high school athlete, said he did not watch the race.

McNeil, who is "slowly" recovering from a stroke he suffered in December, told the Sunday Observer, "I decided not to watch the race as I did not want to get too excited."

He said he went outside his Trelawny home and "sat under an ackee tree until the race was over and neighbours told me what happened".

McNeil said he was "elated and filled with joy, but not surprised", explaining that he had been saying since 2002 that "Usain is a cut above the rest and has an added speed dimension that sets him apart".

He said he predicted Bolt would run faster than 9.70 seconds, based on his talent and conditioning under coach Glen Mills.
McNeil also said he hoped that at some stage Bolt will consider the 400m as he thinks he can run under 43.00 seconds for the one-lap event.

Lindel 'Stretch' Frater, whose son Michael was sixth in a personal best 9.97 seconds, said he was not surprised that Bolt won.

"Once I saw Bolt run that 10.03 seconds in March under no pressure, I knew he would be the man to beat in the Olympics," said Frater, who runs an egg farm on his family property in Ulster Spring. He also said he had mixed feelings about his son's performance and admitted that he was disappointed with Asafa Powell's fifth place finish.

The former member of parliament for South Trelawny said he was "a bit disappointed that Michael did not get on the medal podium, but I am pleased with his personal best".

"I think the injury he suffered earlier in the year set him back a bit, but he trained very well to get here. I just hoped he had finished in the top three," said Frater.

He described Powell as "a good friend, someone I talk to often. I feel for him, he has so much ability".

Susan Koenig, an American biologist who has lived and worked for the past 13 years in Windsor, a neighbouring community to Sherwood Content, described Bolt's run as "unbelievable".
"He has worked so hard, and to see it pay off it's so great," said Koenig, who has known Bolt since he was a primary school student.

She said the atmosphere in the community leading up to yesterday morning was "low keyed and relaxed".
Kingsley Titer, a family friend who attends the same church as Bolt's mother, Jennifer, said they were always confident Usain would be victorious. He, too, joined the family to watch the race live.

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