Bolt, James, Weir Impressive in London

Usain Bolt ran a 100m season best (SB) 9.85secs with a +0.2 wind at the London Diamond League meet yesterday. He was followed home by American Michael Rogers, who clocked 9.98, and Bolt’s fellow Jamaican Nesta Carter, a hundredth of a second behind (9.99) in third. Veteran Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis was fourth in 10.03.

Bolt’s time was 0.22 seconds slower than his London 2012 victory time of 9.63 – the second fastest 100m in history behind his own 9.58 world record.

Another Jamaican, Warren Weir, was also on fire again; he ran what seemed the perfect corner into the straight to romp home in 19.89, ahead of his compatriot Jason Young (19.99) in second place. Only Bolt and American Tyson Gay have run the 200m faster than Weir this year.

The 23-year-old, who has been burning up the track this season, said afterwards that he was pretty pleased with the time and that he felt confident going into the World Championships.

Teen-aged sprinter Delano Williams, who switched nationality from the Turks and Caicos Islands earlier this year and will compete for Britain at the World championships, was last in 20.74. Williams lives in Jamaica.

Relay Today

The Caribbean also dominated in the longer men’s sprint; Grenada’s reigning world and Olympic champion Kirani James won the men’s 400m in 44.66, easing home in the last 50 meters to beat Tony McQuay of the US.

In the women’s 400m hurdles, Jamaica’s Kaliese Spencer and Ristananna Tracey were fifth and seventh in 54.88 and 55.55, respectively. It was Spencer’s fastest time this season. The race was won by Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic in a world leading and national record of 53.07.

Off the track, Russia’s Yekaterina Koneva leaped 14.52 meters to defeat Jamaica’s Kimberly Williams (14.38) in the women’s triple jump.

The two-day meet ends today with highlights such as the women’s 100m featuring Jamaica’s Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Kerron Stewart and Schillonie Calvert of Jamaica and World champion Carmelita Jeter, English Gardner and Jeneba Tarmoh of the US.

The Men’s sprint relay is scheduled to close out the meet and promises to be a cracker. Racers Track Club of Jamaica will take on an all-star combination, as well as Great Britain, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Australia and Germany.