Bolt storms to 100m victory in London, Farah wins 3,000m
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E-mail Xinhua, July 25, 2015
Six-time Olympic champion Usaine Bolt stormed to the men's 100 meters win at the IAAF Diamond League London meeting at the Olympic Stadium here on Friday.
Britain's most glittering star Mo Farah, competing in his first race at home since allegations of doping were made against coach Albert Salazar, won the 3,000m and received same cheers as loud as those to Bolt from the boisterous crowd.
Bolt, who claimed three gold medals on the same track at the 2012 Olympic Games, powered home in a stunning time of 9.87 seconds, his best performance of the season.
The Jamaican, running his second 100m race this season, had braved rain and headwinds to win the heat, also in 9.87 seconds, despite loosening the stride in the final meters.
"The heats were good, but the finals not so good," he said after the race.
"In the final I got a really bad start, I kind of lost focus for a minute and I lost my form but I got it back at the end. So it taught me a lot, these two races.
"I wasn't looking for a specific time but I knew I could have gone faster if I had got the start I wanted. The key thing coming into this race was trying to get everything right on the track."
American Michael Rodgers finished second in 9.90 seconds while Bolt's fellow Jamaican Kemar Bailey-Cole was third in 9.92.
The 28-year-old Jamaican, who holds the 100m world record of 9.58 seconds, had not been in good form this season, registering his only 100m time of 10.12 seconds two months ago and putting his preparation for the Beijing World Championships in doubt.
He is now confident of adding more gold medals to his collection in Beijing, which will be held on Aug. 22-30 at the iconic Bird's Nest stadium.
"Anything is possible in Beijing, it's all about the effort you put in," he said. "My coach has been happy with my technique and my work but it's all about getting race-ready now.
"Today has helped because I can see my plans coming together." ' Farah, who won the 5,000m and 10,000m gold medals here at the Olympics three years ago, won in seven minutes 34.66 seconds.
"I got amazing support tonight which was incredible," he said. "It meant everything to me tonight, this is where I made my name and it changed my life to win and become Olympic champion here."
The men's 200m was won by Britain's Zharnel Hughes in a personal best of 20.05 seconds and his compatriot Laura Weightman upset the field to win the women's 1500m in 4:06.09.
The United States bagged the two hurdles events, with Jason Richardson winning the men's 110m in 13.19 seconds and Jasmin Stowers taking the women's 100m in 12.47.
The Americans narrowly missed a third hurdles title in the 400m hurdles, which was won by Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic. American duo Georganne Moline and Cassandra Tate finished second and third respectively.
But Natasha Hastings added a third title to the US team, clocking a season best of 50.24 for the victory.
Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill of Britain finished fifth in the 100m hurdles with a season's best time of 12.79 seconds.
Kazakhstan's Olga Rypakova won the women's triple jump in 14.33 meters, Italy's Marco Fassinotti captured the men's high jump by clearing 2.31 meters, beating teammate Gianmarco Tamberi (2.28) and Qatar's Essa Mutaz Barshim (2.28) into second and third places.
Belgium's Philip Milanov won the men's discus throw with 65.14 meters. Endi
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