Bolt has final say with explosive Nitro dash

IT was probably fitting, and not totally unexpected, that Usain Bolt’s team would be victorious in the revolutionary event that looks set to carry athletics into a new era.

In what was a perfect finale to the debut of Nitro Athletics, Australia were in front coming into the last event but there was one major problem – it involved the fastest man in the world.

Bolt teamed with former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell in the 4x100m mixed relay to crush the locals and claim the first Nitro trophy by 12 points – 1030 to 1018.

“That was brilliant,” Bolt said. “They gave us 150 per cent, I said we’re going to push, we’re going to push and that is what we did.”

It was a lopsided contest with Powell leading off opposed to hurdler Michelle Jenneke and Bolt running the back street against Australia’s 400m champion Morgan Mitchell.

The gripping finish was a fitting way to end Nitro which had been a massive hit with more than 22,000 spectators attending Lakeside Stadium over the three nights.

Australia finished second on each night of the competition but there were many highlights for the locals.

The second-last event of the series provided one of those with Ryan Gregson making things interesting after he produced a brilliant final 100m in the elimination mile to take down his training partner Matthew Ramsden.

The Olympic 1500m finalist had the crowd ecstatic with the win putting Australia 38 points up coming into the final event.