Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt showed his class Wednesday by winning the 100 meters at the Golden Spike meet in 9.77 seconds.
Bolt had a strong tail wind of 2.1 meters per second but he wasn’t complaining.
"I’m just happy I got under 10 seconds," Bolt said. "Sometimes I got the right wind, sometimes I don’t. I’m just happy I ran injury free," he said.
"It was quicker than I thought," said the Jamaican, who was cheered by the crowd long after his race.
Bolt cruised to victory ahead Britain’s Craig Pickering, who finished well behind in 10.08. Ronald Pogon of France was third in 10.17.
Bolt established himself as the world’s fastest man after setting world records in the 100 and 200 at last year’s Beijing Olympics and was part of the Jamaican team that broke the world mark in the 4×100 relay. He ran 9.69 in the 100 at the games.
Bolt ran 9.93 in Spanish Town, Jamaica on March 14, but also with a help from a strong tail wind that meant the time could not be officially recognized.
Olympic champion Dayron Robles of Cuba, who set the world record at 12.87 seconds in Ostrava last year, won the men’s 110 meters hurdles in 13.04 seconds, a world’s best time this season. He was followed by Dexter Faulk of the United States in 13.13 and Shamar Sands of Bahamas in 13.38.
"Even though it is a new world leading time (this year), I did not feel well today," Robles said. "I don’t know what happened. I think I need one more week to train and it will improve."
The 2005 world champion, American Bershawn Jackson won the men’s 400 hurdles in 48.32 seconds, also in the best time of the season, with Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic second in 49.20 and Marek Plawgo of Poland third in 49.59.
"It was a great race," Jackson said. "I’m really satisfied that I made a world leading time because our trials are really tough and I hope to qualify for the World Championships in Berlin and run around 48 seconds. Hopefully under 48," he said.
Meselech Melkamu of Ethiopia was fighting neck and neck with Kenya’s Linet Masai in the women’s 5,000 meters until she prevailed at the end to finish in a world’s best time this year of 14 minutes, 34.17 seconds. Masai was just 0.19 second behind followed by another Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot in 14:38.26.
Paul Hession of Ireland took the men’s 200 meters with a strong finish, beating Brian Dzingai of Zimbabwe by one hundredth of a second in 20.44 seconds. Nickel Asmeade of Jamaica was third in 20.72.
Double world champion Michelle Perry of the United States was beaten by Jamaica’s Delloreen Ennis-London in the women’s 100 meters hurdles. Delloreen crossed the finish in 12.79 seconds.
"I’m really satisfied with my time today I can say I ‘m ready for Jamaica’s trials next weekend," Ennis-London said.
Perry, who hit a hurdle, finished in 12.86 while another American Danielle Carruthers was third in 12.90.
"I hit the seventh hurdle," Perry said. "It’s a pity. I wanted to improve my reputation (here) after I had false starts in 2007."
In the rarely contested women’s 20,000 meters, Dire Tune of Ethiopia targeted the world record of 1 hour, 5 minutes and 26.6 seconds set by Tegla Loroupe of Kenya in 2000 but finished well outside in 1:05:35.3.
"I think the pace makers were not good enough. It was slow and it was very hard to run such a long track alone," Tune said.
Silver Olympic medalist Maria Abakumova of Russia disappointed the crowd of some 22,000 by winning the women’s javelin with a throw of 66.89 meters, beating Czech Olympic champion Barbora Spotakova, who was third with a throw of 65.92. Christina Obergfoell of Germany was second with a throw of 66.88.
