Eurosport - Fri, 24 Jul 23:16:00 2009
Sprint superstar Usain Bolt won the 100m at the London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace in astounding style on a day when it was announced five of his fellow Jamaicans had tested positive for drugs.
Despite running into a stiff head wind, world record-holder Bolt, the Olympic 100m and 200m champion, clocked a time of 9.91 seconds despite a mediocre start and clearly slowing down in the closing stages.
Bolt, who in Beijing last year set a world record of 9.69 while winning gold, was not the quickest away from the start but once he was into his stride no-one in final at the Crystal Palace track in south London ever looked like catching him.
It was a display to worry rivals ahead of next month's World Championships in Berlin but Bolt, who finished second in his heat, said afterwards: "I am ready for anything that comes my way. I am not invincible, I am not unbeatable. I must have a bad day some day but until then..."
Fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake was a distant second to Bolt in 10.11 with Antigua's Daniel Bailey third.
Jamaica's former world record-holder Asafa Powell, who before this race insisted Bolt could be beaten, finished well down the field in sixth place.
Earlier on Friday, the International Association of Athletics Federations confirmed that five Jamaican sprinters - four men and one woman - had tested positive for a banned substance at the country's world championship trials.
The five do not include Bolt or Powell or any of the country's top sprint stars - click the link beneath the picture for more details.
While Bolt remains a huge favourite for Berlin, a chink appeared in the armour of pole vault world record holder and world and Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva as she was beaten into second place on countback by Pole Anna Rogowska.
The Russian, with a best effort of 5.05 metres, suffered her first defeat of the season and looked sluggish in needing three attempts to clear her opening height of 4.68 before failing all three at 4.78.
"I'm not in form, I think I'm tired from competitions but I'm confident for Berlin," said Isinbayeva, who has won the last two world titles.
British pole vaulter Kate Dennison finished fifth and managed to set a national record of 4.58m despite struggling with illness over the past few days.
But the Sale Harrier insists she will be fit and well for the World Championships and is targeting a place in the final in Berlin.
It's great to get another record especially as I wasn't feeling all that well, said Dennison. But I probably would not have done it if it wasn't for the crowd - they were amazing and really spurred me on out there.
I'm going to be in much better shape in Berlin and if I get to the final, who knows what can happen.
Meanwhile Nicola Sanders continued her comeback from injury with an impressive victory in difficult conditions in the 400m.
Sanders has been plagued with injuries since winning silver behind Christine Ohourogu at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka but is keeping her fingers crossed her recent performances will earn her a chance to defend her medal.
It always a great confidence boost to get a win, especially in a good field, said Sanders.
My main target when I started competing again was to make the qualifying time for Berlin and I did that last Monday so now hopefully I will get the nod for the Worlds.
Cuba's 110 hurdles world record holder Dayron Robles was also close to a first defeat this year but just held off Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados in a fierce headwind to win in 13.29 seconds.
"It felt like a cyclone in my face," he said.
Debbie Ferguson McKenzie, 33, who has appeared in both sprint finals in the last three Olympics, said "age is nothing but a number" after winning the 200 in 23.11 seconds.
"You get better with age, like a fine wine," added the Bahamanian, who said she hoped to run both sprints in Berlin.
London Grand Prix results:
Men's 100m
1. Usain Bolt (Jamaica) 9.91 secs
2. Yohan Blake (Jamaica) 10.11
3. Daniel Bailey (Antigua and Barbuda) 10.13
Men's 800m
1. Gary Reed (Canada) 1min 45.85secs
2. Adam Kszczot (Poland) 1:46.05
3. Nick Symmonds (US) 1:46.11
Men's 5000m
1. Mo Farah (Britain) 13mins 09.14secs
2. Sammy Mutahi (Kenya) 13:10.17
3. Mike Kigen (Kenya) 13:17.79
Men's 110m Hurdles
1. Dayron Robles (Cuba) 13.29 secs
2. Ryan Brathwaite (Barbados) 13.31
3. Andy Turner (Britain) 13.66
Men's Triple Jump
1. Brandon Roulhac (US) 17.33 metres
2. Arnie David Girat (Cuba) 17.18
3. Phillips Idowu (Britain) 17.16
Men's Shot Put
1. Christian Cantwell (US) 21.82 metres
2. Reese Hoffa (US) 21.55
3. Tomasz Majewski (Poland) 21.43
Women's 200m
1. Debbie Ferguson (Bahamas) 23.11 secs
2. Marshevet Hooker (US) 23.30
3. Emily Freeman (Britain) 23.34
Women's 400m
1. Nicola Sanders (Britain) 51.54 secs
2. Shana Cox (US) 51.56
3. Monica Hargrove (US) 51.66
Women's 800m
1. Jemma Simpson (Britain) 2mins 01.08secs
2. Jenny Meadows (Britain) 2:01.35
3. Marilyn Okoro (Britain) 2:01.78
Women's 4 x 100m Relay
1. US 42.39 secs
2. Bahamas 43.35
3. US 'B' 43.51
Women's High Jump
1. Blanka Vlasic (Croatia) 2.02 metres
2. Ruth Beitia (Spain) 1.92
3. Amy Acuff (US) 1.88
3=.Lavern Spencer (St Lucia) 1.88
Women's Pole Vault
1. Anna Rogowska (Poland) 4.68 metres
2. Yelena Isinbayeva (Russia) 4.68
3. Kristina Gadschiew (Germany) 4.58
3=.Monika Pyrek (Poland) 4.58
Comment 1 - 4 of 4
Great going Bolt! Hope that Tyson Gay gets better quickly so that the best man will indeed win. I think that Bolt will blitz him.
Bolt has just won another 100 meter event quiet easily . It makes you wonder . If it is too good to be true ,it probably is . Bolt is good but NOBODY can be that good ALL the time . Stay tuned !!
Blanka won again! epic win to the best women high jumper in the world
She doesn't even have same level opponents - completely dominated
Im so jealous of Croatia
wowowowoowoowo isinbayeva LOSING!!!
bolt should have got a new world record
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