Usain Bolt wins 100, Sanya Richards of US in running for $1 million Golden League jackpot

Bolt wins, Richards stays in hunt for $1 million

ZURICH — Usain Bolt shook off Jamaican teammate Asafa Powell to win the 100 meters in 9.81 seconds at the Weltklasse meet on Friday.

Bolt, the world and Olympic champion, trailed Powell halfway into the race then used his huge stride to pull ahead and eased up in the last couple of yards. Powell finished in 9.88, followed by two Americans, Darvis Patton in 9.95 and Michael Rodgers in 9.98.

In his first race since smashing world records in the 100 and 200 at the world championships in Berlin, Bolt did not crush his rivals. But he still had enough to win ahead of Powell, the former world record-holder.

World champion Sanya Richards of the United States stayed in the hunt for the $1 million Golden League jackpot by powering home for an easy victory in the 400.

Richards won in 48.94 seconds on Friday, the fastest time in the world this year. Allyson Felix of the United States, the 200-meter world champion in Berlin last week, was second in 49.83. Shericka Williams of Jamaica, the 400 silver medalist, was third in 50.40.

“I stayed in my race and waited till the top when I knew I’d be strong,” Richards said. “The jackpot for some reason doesn’t add a lot of pressure or stress on me. I’m going in very confident that as long as I execute I know I can win.”

Richards needs to win the 400 in the last Golden League meet in Brussels next week to be one of the jackpot winners. The jackpot goes to the athletes who win their event in all six of the Golden League meets.

Carmelita Jeter of the United States won the 100 in 10.86. Kerron Stewart of Jamaica finished second in 11.04, losing her chance for a share of the jackpot.

David Rudisha Of Kenya won the 800 in 1:43.52. Alfred Kirwa Yego of Kenya was second, followed by world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi of South Africa.

Dwight Thomas of Jamaica nipped world silver medalist Terrence Trammell of the United States in the 100 hurdles, winning in a national record time of 13.16. Trammell clocked 13.17 and world champion Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados was third in 13.27.

In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, world champion Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya beat bronze medalist Bouabdallah Tahri of France, while silver medalist Richard Mateelong of Kenya finished fifth.