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 With just under a month to go before he defends his world 100 and
200 titles in Beijing, the Jamaican showed he had recovered from a
pelvic injury that has disrupted his season, although he was left
with plenty to ponder in the rain-lashed capital.
The world's fastest man shook off the rust from his layoff -- this
was his first 100 for over three months and first competitive race
since mid-June -- to win his heat and the final in the same time,
putting him equal sixth in the world this year.
But he had to eat up the ground in the second half of both races,
winning the final by three-hundredths of a second ahead of American
Mike Rodgers (9.90) and fellow Jamaican Kemar Bailey-Cole (9.92).
"In the final I got a really bad start, I kind of lost focus but I
got it back," Bolt told reporters after a routine lap of honor by
his own showman standards. "I know I could have gone faster if I had
just got my start."
Asked about his fitness, Bolt added: "I'm good. I may go to see the
doctor to make sure everything is fine but I'm feeling good. I'm
still number one, I've never been number two."
HUGE OVATION
Bolt gave Mo Farah a hug as he left the track, leaving the Briton to
take center stage and conjure memories of his 2012 Olympic triumphs
in the same stadium.
Farah has been dogged by the doping allegations surrounding his
coach Alberto Salazar but received a huge ovation before and after
winning the 3,000 meters in 7:34.66, the fastest time in the world
this year.
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Farah, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, imitated the
'Lightning Bolt' pose of the Jamaican and told reporters: "You can
only do what you do best and that, for me, is running."
On a night when the soaking conditions made fast times difficult,
American former world champion Jason Richardson took the 110 meters
hurdles spoils in 13.19 seconds.
Olympic champion and world record holder American Aries Merritt
could only finish fourth, while Cuban Orlando Ortega, the fastest in
the world this year, was fifth.
Jasmin Stowers, who will not compete in Beijing after missing
selection, led home an American 1-2-3 in the women's 100m hurdles,
winning comfortably in 12.47 seconds ahead of Dawn Harper-Nelson
(12.64) and world champion Brianna Rollins (12.65).
The grim conditions for competitors were underlined when the pole
vault competition was postponed until Saturday.
(Editing by Ken Ferris)
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