The Hindu : Sport : Bolt streaks to yet another win

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Sport

Bolt streaks to yet another win

Yelena Isinbayeva experiences a rare defeat in pole vault

LONDON: Sprint superstar Usain Bolt powered away from a top-class field to win the 100 metres at the London Grand Prix on Friday and then said he was a man on a mission for next month’s World championships.

Also expected to triumph was Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva, but the Russian experienced her first defeat in six years at the south London stadium.

Despite running into a stiff head wind, World record-holder Bolt, the Olympic 100m and 200m champion, still clocked a time of 9.91sec even though he clearly slowed down in the closing stages.

Powell finishes sixth

Fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake was a distant second to Bolt in 10.11 secs 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.

Bolt, who in Beijing last year set a World record of 9.69sec while winning gold, was not the quickest away from the start but once he was into his stride no-one in the final at the Crystal Palace track in south London ever looked like catching him.

Pleased with progress

“I knew it was going to be a headwind so I wasn’t worried about the time. I got a good start, the transition was good so I’m happy with myself.

“I’m still at 85 per cent and after this it’s all training, I’ve got two or three weeks of good training to put in so I guess I will be 100 per cent by Berlin,” he added.

Anna Rogowska of Poland beat Isinbayeva on countback. Isinbayeva entered the competition at 4.68 metres, but cleared it only on her final attempt. She failed three times at 4.78.

“I’m a little disappointed, it’s unusual for me as I don’t know how to come second,” said Isinbayeva, who last lost a major event in 2003. “I had a really good indoor season and I was hoping to carry that to outdoors, but I have had some injuries which did not help with my training.

“I am confident for the worlds because I have three weeks before my competition. I will take a rest. I will be in my best shape.”

The results (winners only):

Men: 100m: Usain Bolt (Jam) 9.91s; 800m: Gary Reed (Can) 1:45.85s; 5000m: Mo Farah (GBR) 13:09.14s; 110m hurdles: Dayron Robles (Cuba) 13.29s; Triple jump: Brandon Roulhac (U.S.) 17.33m; Shot put: Christian Cantwell (U.S.) 21.82m; 200m: Tyson Gay (U.S.) 20s.

Women: 200m: Debbie Ferguson (Bah) 23.11s; 400m: Nicola Sanders (GBR) 51.54s; 800m: Jemma Simpson (GBR) 2:01.08s; 4 x 100m relay: U.S. 42.39s; High jump: Blanka Vlasic (Cro) 2.02m; Pole vault: Anna Rogowska (Pol) 4.68m. — Agencies