Bolt restakes claim with smashing run in 100m

Updated: 2011-09-15 07:51

(China Daily)

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Bolt restakes claim with smashing run in 100m

Usain Bolt of Jamaica is congratulated by fans after winning the men's 100m at the IAAF grand prix international athletic meet in Zagreb on Tuesday. [Photo/Agencies]

ZAGREB - Jamaican athletics superstar Usain Bolt ran a track record 9.85sec in the 100m at the athletics meeting here Tuesday, smashing longstanding American rival Tyson Gay's mark of 9.92 set last year.

The 25-year-old Olympic titleholder - who lost his world crown last month after being disqualified for a false start - eased away to win in what was for him also a season best time, though a fair bit off his world record of 9.58sec.

St Kitts and Nevis' 35-year-old Kim Collins, 2003 world champion and bronze medalist last month, finished second, while Trinidad and Tobago's Richard Thompson was third.

Collins timed 10.01sec while Thompson finished in 10.03sec.

Bolt, who retained his world 200m crown and also anchored the Jamaican team to a world record in the 4x100m relay, said that he wasn't satisfied with his run overall because of a problem that has been dogging him all season.

"I had a bad start, that's the reason why I had lost concentration, a little bit. It was already happening to me this year," he said.

"But, I felt wonderful here. I remember my last meeting here, in Zagreb (in 2006). Then and tonight again, I had great support from the spectators," he stressed.

Cuba's Olympic champion Dayron Robles won the 110m hurdles in 13.00 seconds, which was also his season's best.

World champion American Jason Richardson was second in 13.04sec.

"I did not expect such a good result," said the Cuban, whose disqualification after winning the 110m hurdles final in August saw Richardson promoted to gold.

"While I was warming up I felt tiredness, a muscle contraction, but at the stadium I felt excellent and if there were not these minor problems, maybe I would have run even better," he added.

Agence France-Presse