USAIN BOLT OPENED the 2016 season and his bid for a third straight Olympic 100m gold with a 10.05-second win at the Cayman Invitational last night.
Making his first strides on the road to Rio, Bolt crossed the finish line .07 of a second ahead of American runner-up Dentarius Locke.
“It wasn’t the best, but as long as I come out injury free, that’s the key thing,” Bolt said.
“I didn’t feel as smooth as I wanted to, but as I always say, it’s hard to just come into your first race and do extra well.”
Jamaican Kemar Bailey-Cole, who trains with Bolt at Racers Track Club, was third in 10.18.
Bolt is planning his campaign with the aim of defending his 100m, 200m and 4x100m Olympic crowns in Brazil, seeking an unprecedented third gold medal in a row in all three events in what he has said will be his final Olympics.
Bolt, who races in Ostrava next week, said he is not worried about his form.
“It’s just more races,” Bolt said.
“My coach will determine what I need to work on, but right now it’s just more races. The more races I run, the better I will feel so I am just looking forward to running more races and see what happens.
I am never worried. I’ve been in worse situations. It’s just race rusty. I can tell. I could feel the difference from when you are flying from when you are not.”
The 29-year-old superstar had not competed since winning three gold medals at last August’s World Championships in Beijing.
Bolt, who holds the 100m world record at 9.58 seconds and the world 200m record of 19.19, was off his pre-meet projection of a victory in 9.91.
© – AFP 2016
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