Bolt powers home

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP):

Olympic and World champion Usain Bolt recovered from a poor start to win the 100 metres at the Samsung Diamond League meet in 9.84 seconds yesterday.

Bolt set a new meet record and beat fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell, who finished second in 9.91. Another Jamaican sprinter, Yohan Blake, was third in 9.95.

"It wasn't the best race I've ever had in my life," said Bolt, who returned to competition in Lausanne, Switzerland, on July 9 following an Achilles injury.

"My first part was awful. At the 50 metres, I thought he (Asafa) had me. I had to work a little bit harder to get back in the race."

Bolt, the world record holder in the 100 and 200, pulled away in the final metres to stay unbeaten at 100 for 14 consecutive finals.

"It's all about determination," he said. "I want to be the best, to stay on top. When you run against the best, it always pushes you to do your best all the time. I'm happy, I escaped injuries and I won the race."

First meeting this season

Bolt and Powell, who share the fastest time this year at 9.82 seconds, met for the first time this season. Powell is the last man to have beaten Bolt in the 100, two years ago in Stockholm.

American David Oliver posted the fastest time this year in the 110-metre hurdles, clocking 12.89 seconds, just 0.02 short of Dayron Robles' world record.

It was enough, though, to take the American national record outright from Dominique Arnold, who ran 12.90 in 2006. Oliver had equalled that mark at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon two weeks ago.

Under perfect weather conditions, with mild temperature and a slight tail wind, Oliver enjoyed a strong start and pulled away to win ahead of fellow American Ryan Wilson, who finished in 13.12. Another American sprinter, Ronnie Ashe, was third in 13.21. Jamaica's Dwight Thomas was fifth in 13.30.

"The run overall was OK," Oliver told reporters. "I hit a few hurdles. I sat down on one of the hurdles, my hips dropped, that's a waste of time."

He insisted he didn't regret missing the world record so narrowly. "You can't be frustrated," he said. "I'm winning, man. That's the most important thing - you're never frustrated when you win.

"I won Paris, I get four more Diamond League points. I want to be the Diamond League champion, that helps my goal. I just want to win. If you don't win, you can't be great. I want to be great."

Leg problems

Robles, the defending Olympic champion and world-record holder in the 110-metre hurdles, pulled out of the meeting because of leg problems.

The powerfully built Oliver had already clocked the previous season's best time, of 12.90, at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.

American Jeremy Wariner extended his unbeaten record in the Diamond League this season to four races, setting a season best of 44.49 seconds in the 400 metres.

"It feels great. I'm getting back to where I was a few years ago," Wariner said. "That's a big confidence boost for me right now."

The 2004 Olympic champion, who underwent knee surgery last September, easily won ahead of Jermaine Gonzales of Jamaica, who finished in a personal best 44.63. Belgium Jonathan Borlee was third with 44.77.

Wariner, who is hoping he will be able to run under 44 seconds before the end of the season, had set the previous season best of 44.57 last week in Lausanne.

Olympic champion Brimin Kipruto beat the previous season best he set in Lausanne, winning the 3,000 metres steeplechase in 8:00.90 seconds, while Abubaker Kaki of Sudan won the 800 in 1:43.50 ahead of world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, who clocked 1:44.11.

"Good weather, good pace, my personal best," Kipruto said. "You can't ask for more."

After taking the US 100 metres title and the 400 in Eugene, American Allyson Felix won the 200 metres in 22.14 ahead of fellow American Shalonda Solomon, who finished in 22.55. Jamaica's Sherone Simpson finished fourth in 22.65.

"It's a decent time, but I wanted to go a little bit faster," Felix said. "But without Veronica Campbell-Brown in the race, it's always hard to push myself."