KINGSTON // The triple world record holder Usain Bolt was pushed all the way before winning his first 100 metres race of the year at a local meeting on home soil in Spanish Town, Jamaica yesterday. Bolt, 22, returned a wind-assisted 9.93 seconds, the same time as his Racers club mate Daniel Bailey of Antigua who led most of the way until being caught near the line at the meeting in the former Jamaica capital. The wind factor was plus 2.3.
"It's a good time, based on the stage that my training is at and I am feeling alright," Bolt said after the race. Running in lane four of a seven-man field, Bolt got a fast start but trailed Bailey for 90 metres before catching him. "It was really a good race, I missed a lot of training so I am trying to get it right," said Bolt who will run at the Jamaica International Invitational meeting in Kingston on May 2, but was not sure if he would run another 100m before then.
"I am not sure what I am going to do from here. I am just starting my speed work, so we'll see how it goes from here," said Bolt who broke the 10 seconds mark 10 times last year. Bolt won the race at the same meeting last year in 10.03 seconds in his first competitive 100m race. Saturday's victory was Bolt's third competitive individual event this year following two 400 metres triumphs. He has also run in successful 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams for Racers club.
Bolt won gold in the men's 100m and 200m at last year's Beijing Olympic Games in 9.69 seconds and 19.30 respectively. He was also a member of Jamaica's record-breaking 4x100m team. *Reuters
