ROME – World record-holder Usain Bolt needed a late kick to win his first race in nine months, capturing the 100 meters in 9.91 seconds earlier today to edge former record-holder Asafa Powell at the Golden Gala.
Powell was timed in 9.93 and European champion Christophe Lemaitre finished third in 10.00.
As usual, Bolt got off to a slow start, but unlike his most recent races he was behind until pulling in front with his very last strides.
“I was nervous as it was my first race of the season and I didn’t think it went well and the nerves got to me,” Bolt said. “In fact it was a totally bad race and I’m just pleased I won.”
Bolt had not competed since he was beaten by Tyson Gay in Stockholm last August, ending the Jamaican’s two-year unbeaten streak. The triple Olympic and world champion then cut short his season because of back and Achilles’ tendon problems.
Since Powell set a world record of 9.74 seconds in Rieti, Italy, in 2007, Bolt has broken the mark three times, the last at 9.58 at the 2009 world championships in Berlin.
Bolt has now beaten Powell in nine of their 10 meetings, with Powell’s only win coming in Stockholm in 2008.
“I tired toward the end and if I had kept it up I would have been the winner tonight,” Powell said. “I think I was too worried by Usain at the end of the race. I always said this was my race to win and I gave it away. I knew I could have won and I needed to stay focused and relaxed. I’m more confident now as I know I could have won.”
Â
