Zurich, Aug 30 (IANS/CMC) Usain Bolt recovered from a poor start before sprinting to victory in the 100m at the Zurich Diamond League at the Letzigrund Stadium.
The six-time Olympic champion began extremely slowly but stormed back late to win in 9.90 seconds, reports CMC.
Bolt finished ahead of teammate Nickel Ashmeade (9.94) and American Justin Gatlin was third in 9.96 seconds.
“I wasn’t as fit. The more the season goes, the more tired I get. I’m just trying to get through the season injury free,” Bolt told reporters.
“I have to go and prepare, see what I can to do improve my start.”
The other Jamaicans Nesta Carter and Kemar Bailey-Cole were sixth and seventh respectively.
Gatlin, although finishing in third place, is the winner of this season’s Diamond League 100m title.
Bolt and Gatlin went gold-silver at the World Championships in Moscow earlier this month, where Bolt won in 9.77 to Gatlin’s 9.85.
Bolt is expected to race in the Diamond League finale in Brussels, Belgium, Sep 6.
World leader Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was first in the women’s 200 metres, sprinting a comfortable 22.40 seconds.
The win makes Fraser-Pryce the female 200m Diamond League champion for 2013.
Mourielle Ahoure from the Ivory Coast, in a repeat of Moscow World Championships, was second in 22.66, while the Ukraine’s Mariya Ryemyen was third in 22.67.
American Tiffany Townsend was disqualified after a false start.
Meanwhile, Grenada’s Olympic 400 metres champion Kirani James finished a close second to World champion LaShawn Merritt.
Merritt ran into James very early and stayed close to the Grenadian to push ahead close to the finish to win in 44.13 seconds.
James was second in 44.32 and Pavel Maslák of the Czech Republic third in 44.91.
Merritt’s win confirms him as the Diamond League 400m title winner this season.
–IANS/CMC
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