Bolt clocks 9.79 in Paris Golden League win
Last Updated: Friday, July 17, 2009 | 7:25 PM ET
The Associated Press
Usain Bolt, left, Yohan Blake, centre, and Churandy Martina compete in the men's 100-metre event on Friday at the Areva Meeting, part of the six-race Golden League, near Paris. (Boris Horvat/AFP/Getty Images)World record-holder Usain Bolt comfortably won the 100-metre race at the Areva Meeting on Friday in Saint-Denis, France, just missing Tyson Gay's season-best time as he gears up for next month's world championships in Berlin.
The Jamaican won in 9.79 seconds. Gay ran 9.77 last week at the Golden Gala in Rome.
"I had a bad start, but I ran a good time," Bolt said. "Overall, it wasn't a perfect race but it was good enough for me."
Daniel Bailey of Antigua and Barbuda was second to Bolt in 9.91, and Yohan Blake of Jamaica was third in 9.93 in light drizzle and chilly wind.
Bolt won the 100 and 200 at last year's Beijing Olympics in world records. He also helped Jamaica win the 400 relay in record time. His goal now is to beat Gay, the defending 100 and 200 champion, in Berlin.
"Overall, it's a good time definitely," Bolt said. "I think it's very important to show the world that last year [in the Olympics] wasn't a joke. It's good to show the world that this is not a joke and I'm ready. I'm looking forward to the worlds."
Also winning were Sanya Richards of the United States at 400 metres, Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia at 3,000 metres, Yelena Isinbaeva of Russia in the pole vault and Kerron Stewart of Jamaica at 100 metres.
They stayed on course for a share of the $1 million US Golden League jackpot at the end of the season after four legs of the six-leg Golden League.
Record-breaking race for Richards
Bekele dominated rival Bernard Lagat in the 3,000, surging ahead by 30 metres with three laps to go, and extending the gap by the end. He won in seven minutes 28.64 seconds, while Lagat finished in 7:33.15.
Richards beat second-place Novlene Williams-Mills of Jamaica by more than a second, finishing in 49.34. That took Richards below 50 seconds for the 37th time, breaking Marita Koch's record for most performances under 50.
"That makes me really proud. I told myself: No matter what, I'm going to go under 50 today, I don't care if it rains or pours or the wind is blowing me over," Richards said. "Stockholm is next on my schedule. I'm still not 100 per cent sure if I'll be competing or not. I might just go home and get prepared for Berlin."
Pole vault world record-holder Isinbaeva was way short of her best, but she still did enough to win with a vault of 15 feet three inches.
"Pole vault is quite difficult against great wind, so I preferred to stop, not to get some injury and have a bad preparation for the world championships," she said.
Wariner cruises to victory
In other events, Jeremy Wariner of the United States won the men's 400, easing up in the last 20 metres as he cruised over the line ahead of Christopher Brown of Bahrain. Wariner won in 45.28 seconds, 0.16 seconds ahead of Brown.
"It's not where I wanted, time-wise, but I think I executed right," Wariner said. "I expected somewhere in the 44 [seconds] middle to low. But you know, conditions are a little chilly — windy down the backstretch."
Dexter Faulk of the U.S. won the 110 hurdles in 13.14, with Dwight Thomas of Jamaica second with a personal best of 13.30.
Ahmed Ismail of Sudan won the 800, and Renaud Lavillenie took the pole vault.
American women swept the 100 hurdles, with Dawn Harper winning in 12.68, Michelle Perry second and Virginia Powell third.
Anna Jesien of Poland followed her win in Rome last week with a victory in the 400 hurdles. She edged Jamaica's Melanie Walker, whose season best of 54.47 put her 0.10 behind Jesien. Tiffany Williams of the U.S. was third with a season's best 54.72.
