Bolt Stops the Clock a Bit Late at Areva Meeting, still he Wins

SAINT-DENIS, France — World record-holder Usain Bolt comfortably won the 100 meters at the Areva Meeting on Friday, by ticking off 9.79, way slower than his Olympic record of 9.72.

The Jamaican won in 9.79 seconds. Gay ran 9.77 last week at the Golden Gala in Rome.

“I had a bad start, but I ran a good time,” Bolt said.

Daniel Bailey of Antigua and Barbuda was second to Bolt in 9.91, and Yohan Blake of Jamaica was third in 9.93.

Bolt won the 100 and 200 at last year’s Beijing Olympics in world records. He also helped Jamaica win the 400 relay in record time. His goal now is to beat Gay, the defending 100 and 200 champion, in Berlin.

Also winning were Sanya Richards of the United States at 400 meters, Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia at 3,000 meters, Yelena Isinbaeva of Russia in the pole vault and Kerron Stewart of Jamaica at 100 meters.

They stayed on course for a share of the $1 million Golden League jackpot at the end of the season after four legs of the six-leg Golden League.

Bekele dominated rival Bernard Lagat in the 3,000, surging ahead by 30 meters with three laps to go, and extending the gap by the end. He won in 7 minutes, 28.64 seconds, while Lagat finished in 7:33.15.

Richards also won in style, but still claims the Golden League jackpot is not on her mind.

“I don’t know what it is but I never feel pressured by the jackpot,” she said.

She may share some of that prize with Stewart, who cruised home in the 100 in 10.99, well ahead of Chandra Sturrup of the Bahamas.

Richards beat second-place Novlene Williams-Mills of Jamaica by more than one second, finishing in 49.34. That took Richards below 50 seconds for the 37th time, breaking Marita Koch’s record for most performances under 50.

“That makes me really proud. I told myself: No matter what, I’m going to go under 50 today, I don’t care if it rains or pours or the wind is blowing me over,” Richards said. “Stockholm is next on my schedule. I’m still not 100 percent sure if I’ll be competing or not. I might just go home and get prepared for Berlin.”

Richards is looking for more success at the worlds.

“It’s time to get prepared to become a world champion,” she said.

In damp and slightly windy conditions, world record-holder Isinbaeva was way short of her best, but she still did enough to win with a vault of 15 feet, 3 inches.

Also, Jeremy Wariner of the United States won the men’s 400, easing up in the last 20 meters as he cruised over the line ahead of Christopher Brown of Bahrain. Wariner won in 45.28 seconds, 0.16 seconds ahead of Brown.

“It’s not where I wanted timewise, but I think I executed right,” Wariner said. “I expected somewhere in the 44 (seconds) middle to low. But you know, conditions are a little chilly. Windy down the backstretch.”

Dexter Faulk of the U.S. won the 110 hurdles in 13.14, with Dwight Thomas of Jamaica second with a personal best of 13.30. Ladji Doucoure wanted to give the home fans at Stade de France something to cheer about, but the 2005 world champion finished only eighth.

“I’m just not feeling right at all,” Doucoure said.

Ahmed Ismail of Sudan won the 800, and Renaud Lavillenie took the pole vault.

American women swept the 100 hurdles, with Dawn Harper winning in 12.68 and Michelle Perry second and Virginia Powell third.

Anna Jesien of Poland followed her win in Rome last week with victory in the 400 hurdles. She edged Jamaica’s Melanie Walker, whose season best of 54.47 put her 0.10 behind Jesien. Tiffany Williams of the U.S. was third with a season’s best of 54.72.

Associated Press Writer Trung Latieule in Saint-Denis contributed to this report.