media_artricles :: 2016

Bolt recovers from bad start

KINGSTON

Usain Bolt recovered from a stumbling start to beat rivals Asafa Powell and Yohan Blake in the 100 metres at the inaugural Racers Grand Prix here Saturday night.

The reigning World and Olympic champion staggered from the blocks but produced his now familiar mid-race acceleration to storm back to cross the line first in a season-best 9.88 seconds — the second fastest time in the world this year.

Such was Bolt's confidence that he eased up ten metres before the line, as fellow Jamaicans Nickel Ashmeade and Yohan Blake finished second and third respectively in the same time of 9.94 seconds. Former World record holder Asafa Powell clocked 9.98 seconds for fourth, marking the first time this year that the top four dipped below the ten-second barrier.

In the corresponding women's sprint, reigning Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce rebounded from her nightmare last-place finish in Eugene, to take victory in a time of 11.09 seconds. She was pushed all the way by American Barbara Pierre who finished second in 11.11 seconds with Trinidadian Kelly-Ann Baptiste third in 11.15 seconds.

Meanwhile, World 400 metres silver medallist, Bahamian Shaunae Miller, stormed to a new national record in the 200 metres when she dismissed her field in a time of 22.05 seconds — the third fastest time in the world this year. American Jenna Prandini was second in 22.39 seconds with Jamaican Audra Segree third in 22.89.

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