SAINT-DENIS, France — Olympic and world champion Usain Bolt recovered from a poor start to win the 100 meters in 9.84 seconds Friday at the Paris Diamond League meet.
Bolt set a meet record and beat fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell, who finished second in 9.91. Jamaican Yohan Blake was third in 9.95.
“It wasn’t the best race I’ve ever had in my life,” said Bolt, who returned to competition in Lausanne, Switzerland, on July 9 following an Achilles tendon injury.
“My first part was awful. At the 50 meters, I thought he (Powell) had me. I had to work a little bit harder to get back in the race.”
Bolt, the world record holder in the 100 and 200, pulled away in the final meters to stay unbeaten at 100 for 14 consecutive finals.
“It’s all about determination,” he said. “I want to be the best, to stay on top. When you run against the best, it always pushes you to do your best all the time. I’m happy, I escaped injuries and I won the race.”
Bolt and Powell, who share the fastest time this year at 9.82 seconds, met for the first time this season. Powell is the last man to have beaten Bolt in the 100, two years ago in Stockholm.
American Jeremy Wariner extended his unbeaten record in the Diamond League this season to four races, setting a season best of 44.49 seconds in the 400.
“It feels great. I’m getting back to where I was a few years ago,” Wariner said.
The 2004 Olympic champion edged Jermaine Gonzales of Jamaica, who finished in 44.63. Belgium’s Jonathan Borlee was third with 44.77.
Olympic champion Brimin Kipruto beat the previous season best he set in Lausanne, winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 8:00.90 seconds.
