(Jamaica Observer) Despite two false-starts that he said might have somewhat slowed his star, double world record-holder Usain Bolt made a successful, if somewhat easy start to his competitive season, cruising to a world-leading 9.82 seconds clocking to win the 100 metres at yesterday’s ninth JN Jamaica International Invitational at the National Stadium.
After having to wait through the false-starts and the subsequent hold-ups, Bolt got into his strides quickly to get to the finish line well ahead of Michael Frater,10.00, and Lerone Clarke, 10.03, running out of lane one.
Bolt’s Racers TC training partner, Yohan Blake, had run the previous world leader, 9.90, three weeks ago at the UTech Classic.
Even with the false-starts, all eight men completed the race as the starter showed the green card, signaling no fault on the runners, while one the second pick, Trinidad’s Richard Thompson was disqualified, but returned to the race, running under protest.
Bolt told the throng of reporters from all over the world after the race that he was pleased with his first outing.
“9.82 seconds is not bad as it is a much better start than last year, which tells me that I’m in better shape now,” he said.
He admitted there were some mistakes in the race and said he would address them later with Coach Glen Mills, but added that he felt he was ready for his next outing, which will be in Ostrava.
Meanwhile, American Carmelita Jeter won her third straight women’s 100m title, clocking a world-leading 10.81 seconds to break the meet record of 10.86 she set last year.
Jeter, who came into the meet with the world-leading 200m time, said she was happy for the time, but felt she “was not as aggressive” in the first part as she should have been.
Trinidad’s Kelly Ann Baptiste was second in 10.86, while Jamaica’s Kerron Stewart was third in 10.98.
