Jamaicans celebrate after Usain Bolt's Olympic win

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) Fans of the world's fastest man sprayed Red Stripe beer into the air on Saturday as Usain Bolt crossed the finish line in world-record time at the Olympics' 100-meters final.

People could be heard screaming on the streets of Kingston as the Jamaica native posted a time of 9.69 seconds.

"I've never seen anything like it," said former Olympian sprinter Juliet Cuthbert, who now works as a local TV sportscaster.

Tennis and soccer matches were halted at a sports club in Kingston as dozens of men gathered around a TV to watch the race.

"Him bigga than dem!" the men shouted in patois when the race ended as they grabbed their beers and celebrated. Some wore the yellow, green and black national colors.

"I knew Bolt couldn't be beaten," said Ansil Mcleod, who questioned the mental resolve of competing Jamaican runner Asafa Powell, calling him a "bit too soft." Powell came in fifth.

Local bookies had made Bolt the 1-5 favorite after his emphatic quarterfinal victory on Thursday. Prior to that race, the odds on Bolt were 6-4, said Wilbert Witter, a spokesman for Track Price Plus Limited, which offers bets on 21 Olympic events.

Bolt grew up in Jamaica's rural Trelawny parish, which also has produced Olympian runners Veronica Campbell-Brown, Michael Green and disgraced athlete Ben Johnson.

Bolt's father, who was interviewed after the race on a local TV sports program, said he had talked to the runner two days ago and told him he was nervous.

He recalled Bolt saying that there was nothing to be nervous about, and that he would "carry the gold back home."

"I was expecting him to win," Wilby Bolt told newscasters. "But not for him to set a world record."

Copyright 2009 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.