PARIS - SPRINT king Usain Bolt fired out a warning to rivals ahead of the World Athletics Championships by cruising to a meet record of 9.79 seconds in the 100m at the Golden League event here on Friday.
Other athletes
AWAY from the blue riband event, all four contenders for the one-million-dollar Golden League jackpot for the athlete who wins all six races in their discipline throughout the season won again here, the fourth of the six-leg series.
Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia cruised to an impressive 3000m win in 7min 28.64sec, 4.51sec ahead of Kenyan-born American Bernard Lagat. 'I'm very satisfied to still be in the race for the jackpot,' grinned Bekele.
Jamaica's triple Olympic champion had a terrible start in wet conditions at the Stade de France but once his head came up after 40m, he powered his enormous frame away from the rest of the field in an ominous sign for next month's worlds in Berlin.
'I felt I did well,' said the 22-year-old. 'I'm happy. I had a bad start but I ended up with a good time.' Asked about the upcoming world championships he replied: 'I'm always ready, no matter the conditions. The only thing I've got to work on is my start.' He added: 'With this weather the important thing is not to get injured.
'I run next at Crystal Palace (in London, July 25) then the worlds. I'd say I'm 85 per cent and there's still work to do.' Bolt's training partner Daniel Bailey of Antigua and 19-year-old Jamaican Yohan Blake also posted sub-10sec races in 9.91 and 9.93 respectively.
Bolt's time was the second fastest this season after triple world champion Tyson Gay of the United States, who recorded 9.77sec into a headwind in Rome, and smashed the meet record of 9.85sec set in 2006 by compatriot Asafa Powell. -- AFP
