Bolt strikes Paris win

OLYMPIC and world champion Usain Bolt recovered from a poor start to win the 100m at the Paris Diamond League meet in 9.84 seconds last night.

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

“It wasn’t the best race I’ve ever had,” said Bolt, who returned to competition in Lausanne, Switzerland, on July 9 after an Achilles’ tendon injury.

“My first part was awful. At the 50m, I thought he had me. I had to work a little bit harder to get back in the race.”

Bolt 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.”

Bolt and Powell met for the first time this season. Powell is the last man to have beaten Bolt in the 100m, two years ago in Stockholm.

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

Oliver enjoyed a strong start and pulled away to win ahead of fellow American Ryan Wilson, who finished in 13.12. American Ronnie Ashe was third in 13.21.

No world record has ever been set on the fast Stade de France track.

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 meters.

The 2004 Olympic champion, who had knee surgery last September, easily won ahead of Jermaine Gonzales of Jamaica, who finished in 44.63 to beat his personal best.

Belgium Jonathan Borlee was third with 44.77.