Randalls Island, New York – A day after saying that Justin Gatlin the fastest man in the world for the past two years was no threat to his World Championships titles, Bolt ran a sluggish 20.29 seconds to win the 200m race at the New York Diamond League meet and said he had a lot of concerns over his form.
“I am not happy, I am definitely not happy with my performance today, my turn was horrible, I don’t know what happened, I really can’t explain, it was really bad, it was probably one of my worst turns in my entire life, I don’t know what happened today,” he said after just beating training partner Zharnel Hughes- 20.32 seconds and fellow Jamaican Julian Forte- 20.46 seconds..
“After I came of the turn I knew it wasn’t going to be fast because the turn wasn’t good and I just wanted to get home. This season is not going so smoothly, I am trying to figure what’s going on, I need to get on top of things and work my way back, sit with my coach and try to figure out what going on.”
Nesta Carter was second in the men’s 100m in 10.15 seconds (-1.7m/s) as Tyson Gay won in 10.12 seconds and Trinidad’s Keston Bledmon who finished second after running under protest was later disqualified. Nickel Ashmeade was sixth in 10.28 seconds.
Olympic and World championships relay medalists Samantha Henry-Robinson ran a season’s best 11.08 seconds to place second in the women’s 100m, beaten American English Gardener who ran 11.00 seconds with Trinidad’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste third in 11.19 seconds.
Schillone Calvert was sixth in 11.60 seconds.
Sherone Simpson placed third in the women’s 200m in 22.69 seconds (-2.8m/s) as Tori Bowie won in a season’s best 22.23 seconds ahead of Commonwealth games champion Blessing Okagbare- Ighotegounor- 22.67 seconds.
Stephenie-Ann McPherson was third in the women’s 400m in 50.84 seconds, as Diamond Race leader Francena McCorory ran a World Leading and meet record 49.86 seconds and the Bahamas Shaunae Miller took second in 50.66 seconds.
Christine Day was fifth in a season’s best 51.48 seconds while Novlene Williams Mills did not finish the race.
Anastasia Leroy was third- 52.80 seconds in the B race won by American Dee-dee Trotter in a season; best 51.96 seconds with Shana Cox of Great Britain second in 52.62 seconds.
Another Jamaica Sophia Smellie was fourth 53.17 seconds.
While not happy with her execution, Danielle Williams was third in the 100m hurdles in 12.89 seconds as American Shakira Nelvis won in 12.65 seconds and Great Britain’s Tiffany Porter third in 12.89 seconds.
Shermaine Williams was seventh in 13.19 seconds.
Roxroy Cato ran a season’s best 48.97 seconds for fourth place in the men’s 400m hurdles while Annsert Whyte finished at the back of the field in seventh place in 49.62 seconds.
Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson won the event in a season’s best 48.48 seconds as South Africa’s LJ van Zyl was second with 48.78 seconds and Jeffrey Gibson of the Bahamas third in 48.97 seconds, also season’s best for both men.
Commonwealth Games champions O’Dayne Richards had his best Diamond League showing in a while, placing fourth while equaling his season’s best 21.00m.
American Joe Kovacs continued to dominate the event winning with 21.67m while Jordan Clarke also if the USA was second with a season’s best 21.34m and Tom Walsh of New Zealand took third with 21.16m.
Kimaarra McDonald ran a season’s best 2 minutes 02.38 seconds in the 800m and placed 11th overall.