Usain Bolt of Jamaica reacts after winning the men’s 100m during the London Diamond League ‘Anniversary Games’ athletics meeting at the Olympic Stadium, in east London, yesterday.
LONDON: Any doubts over Usain Bolt’s form going into next month’s world championships were left trailing in the big Jamaican’s wake when he won the 100 metres at the London Diamond League meeting yesterday.
The world record holder overcame a dreadful start to blast past the field over the second half of the race and win in a season’s best 9.85 seconds, well ahead of American Michael Rodgers (9.98) and Jamaican Nesta Carter (9.99).
It was a triumphant return to the Olympic stadium where Bolt dazzled the crowds at last year’s London Games on his way to winning three gold medals.
“I had a bad start... it’s not the best part of my game but I did ok,” Bolt told the BBC.
“If I’m in good shape I always think I’m going to do well. My start was poor and I need to work on that. To make a perfect race I need to make a good start and just get in to the race. Hopefully I can make a good time at Moscow and continue to do well.”
Bolt, who will look to regain his world title in the Russian capital after he was disqualified from the 2011 final in Daegu for a false start, was happy to lap up the adulation from 60,000 fans.
“It’s so wonderful to compete in London, it’s a brilliant experience to be here again,” he said.
Britain’s new sprint hope, 25-year-old James Dasaolu, who ran 9.91 earlier this month, withdrew just before the start with a hip flexor problem.
Olympic bronze medalist Warren Weir continued his dominance winning the 200 metres at the London meet in a spritely 19.89 seconds.
Weir’s training partner Jason Young was second in 19.99 with American Wallace Spearmon third (20.18). Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre ran 20.23 seconds to finish fourth.
Elsewhere, Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim finished third in the high jump with a score of 2.24m.
Ukraine’s Bohdan Bondarenko won the event with 2.38m.
Olympic pole vault champion Jenn Suhr failed to repeat her London success of 2012 when Cuban Yarisley Silva turned the tables on her yesterday but the American was far from disheartened.
London silver medallist Silva, beaten on countback in the Olympic final, won with a clearance of 4.83m. Suhr could only muster 4.73.
“What’s amazing is I was on bigger poles than I’ve ever been on,” Suhr said. AGENCIES
