Bolt is not impressed by his 100 meter win

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt reacts after winning the men’s 100 meter final at the Golden Spike Athletic meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Tuesday. [AP/YONHAP]

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic - Usain Bolt remained unbeaten this season by clocking 9.91 seconds Tuesday to win the 100 meters at the Golden Spike meet.

In only his second race of the year, Bolt pulled away from fellow Jamaican Steve Mullings to finish with the exact same time he set in Rome last week.

Mullings timed 9.97 for the second place and Daniel Bailey of Antigua was third in 10.08.

The race was held with a slight headwind, but Bolt said he had expected to improve on his performance in Rome, where he only edged Jamaican rival Asafa Powell shortly before the finish line.

“My time 9.91 is not bad but it could be better,’’ Bolt said. “I expected [a] faster time.’’

Bolt has broken the 100 record three times, the last time in 9.58 at the 2009 worlds in Berlin. He also holds the 200 meter world record.

However, he ended his season early last year because of back and Achilles’ tendon problems and is still trying to find his form this year.

“I’m just coming back from injury,’’ he said. “It was just my second race in nine, 10 months. I just never come out and run 9.8 or 9.7, it’s not going to happen. I’m taking a step at a time, a race at a time.’’

He said all that matters this year is to defend his title at the Aug. 27-Sept. 4 world championships in Daegu.

“If I lose here, if I lose next week or tomorrow, anytime, it’s never about that, it’s all about the world championship,’’ Bolt said. “I have a lot to do. My main focus is to get back into good shape, I don’t really worry about world records.’’

Bolt’s next stop will be the Bislett Games, a Diamond League meeting in Oslo on June 9 as he prepares for the worlds.

Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius was also unhappy with his time in Ostrava.

Pistorius was no closer to qualifying for this year’s world championships and next year’s Olympics after clocking 46.19 seconds to finish sixth in the 400 meters.

The South African, known as the “Blade Runner,’’ needs to run a personal-best 45.25 seconds to qualify for the worlds.

“I’m a bit disappointed with the time, I thought I could have done better,’’ Pistorius said.

He ran a personal best of 45.61 in Pretoria, South Africa, in March and will have more chances at U.S. meets in Portland, Ore., and New York City.

Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica was more impressive, clocking a personal best and world-leading time of 10.76 for a dominant victory in the women’s 100. Campbell-Brown is a double Olympic champion in the 200, but looks likely to be a main contender in the shorter sprint as well at the worlds this year.

AP

한글 관련 기사 [OSEN]

‘번개’ 볼트, 부상 후 복귀 경기서 9초 91로 우승

`번개` 우사인 볼트(25, 자메이카)가 부상서 9개월 만에 복귀해 우승을 차지했다.

볼트는 27일(이하 한국시간) 이탈리아 로마에서 열린 국제육상경기연맹(IAAF) 다이아몬드리그 골든 갈라대회 100ｍ 결승에서 폭발적인 막판 스퍼트를 보이며 9초91의 기록으로 가장 먼저 결승선을 통과했다.

아킬레스건 부상과 허리 통증으로 지난해 8월 일찌감치 시즌을 접은 뒤 9개월 만에 복귀전을 치른 볼트는 자신의 최고기록이자 세계기록인 9초58에는 미치지 못했다.

볼트의 동료인 아사파 파월(29, 자메이카)이 100분의 2초 뒤진 9초93으로 2위를 차지했고, 백인 선수로는 역대 두 번째로 9초대에 진입한 크리스토프 르메트르(21, 프랑스)가 10초00으로 3위에 올랐다.

볼트는 이날 스타트 반응 속도가 0.174초로 파월(0.133초)과 르메트르(0.129초)에 뒤진 채 출발했다. 중반부터 가속을 붙인 볼트는 마지막 20m를 남겨두고 파월을 따라잡았고 막판 스퍼트를 통해 우승을 거머쥐었다.

한편, 대구 세계육상선수권대회서 여자 200ｍ 4연패에 도전하는 앨리슨 펠릭스(26, 미국)는 이날 400ｍ에 출전해 49초81의 올해 최고기록으로 1등을 차지했다.

여자 1500ｍ에서는 에티오피아 출신으로 바레인으로 귀화한 마리암 유수프 자말(27)이 4분01초60의 기록으로 우승했다. 자말은 이번 세계선수권대회에서 대회 3연패를 노린다.

역시 세계대회 3회 연속 우승에 나선 여자 높이뛰기의 지존 블랑카 블라시치(28, 크로아티아)도 1ｍ95를 넘고 1위에 올랐다.