Bolt wins on return from injury but hurdler Harrison shatters world record

Usain Bolt delivered on his top billing by winning the 200metres at the London Diamond League on Friday but the Jamaican was upstaged for once as American sprint hurdler Kendra Harrison broke one of the oldest world records in the book.

Bolt, running his first 200metres race for a year in his last outing on the track before the Olympics, struggled for his usual rhythm as he laboured to victory in 19.89 seconds.

However, having pulled out of the Jamaican trials last month with a hamstring strain, he was delighted to get through Friday’s race uninjured and can now go away and fine-tune for his attempt at the triple-triple of 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay golds in Rio.

Harrison, however, will be watching the Games on TV having finished sixth in the 100m hurdles at the U.S. trials after breaking the national record in May.

She earned some consolation - as well as a $50,000 bonus - on Friday with a stunning world record.

After delivering a silky smooth performance to win, the clock initially showed a modest 12.58 seconds.

However, it was quickly corrected to 12.20, one hundredth of a second faster than the mark set by Bulgaria's Yordanka Donkova in 1988 - four years before Harrison was born.

Brianna Rollins (12.57), Kristi Castlin (12.59) and Ali Nia (12.63), all Rio-bound after finishing 1-2-3 in the U.S. trials, finished in the same order, behind Harrison on Friday.

"I wanted to come out here with a vengeance to show that even though I won't be going to the Olympics I had to give it all I had," said Harrison, who collapsed to the track in tears when she saw the revised time.

There was a more muted celebration for Bolt, who nevertheless delighted the crowd by winning then spending his usual remarkable amount of time signing autographs, posing for photos and giving endless media interviews.

After a steady start he led halfway round the bend, but only just. As he hit the straight and the crowd expected the sort of surge that brought him three Olympic golds on the same track four years ago, it didn’t happen.

Rocking noticeably, he had to work all the way to the line for a time considerably shy of American LaShawn Merritt's season-leading 19.74. Panama's Edward Alonso was second in 20.04 with Briton Adam Gemili third in 20.07.

"I tried to hold my form. I'm not fully in shape and I don’t think I executed well - I need more work," said Bolt, who turns 30 next month.

"I don't want to see it again. I wasn't that impressed," he added of his performance.

"But I'm feeling good and happy I could run and finish the race without any injuries."

Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas will also head to Rio in confident mood after posting a world-leading 49.55 to win the women's 400metres, setting up a mouth-watering one-lap showdown with Allyson Felix.

There was plenty to cheer for the home fans in the Olympic Stadium now decked out in the claret and blue of its new tenants, West Ham United soccer club.

Britain’s women’s 4x100m relay team opened proceedings by triumphing in a national record 41.82 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year.

Laura Muir also channelled the spirit of 2012's "Super Saturday" when the crowd roared her home in a gutsy front-running victory in the women’s 1500m for a huge personal best and another British record of 3:57.49 – knocking Olympic champion Kelly Holmes off top spot.

Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut won a disappointing 100 metres final in 10.02, having been the only man to dip under 10 seconds with a 9.96 in the heats.

The action continues on Saturday, with the day’s highlight being the 5,000m, featuring home favourite Mo Farah.

INJURY

Usain Bolt looked in fine shape for the Olympics by winning his last race before Rio de Janeiro on his return from injury.

Keni Harrison also looked more than ready for Brazil by breaking a 28-year record in the 100-meters hurdles in London on Friday.

Only unlike Bolt, Harrison is not going to the Olympics.

While Bolt is Rio-bound despite being forced to pull out of the Jamaican trials with a hamstring injury, Harrison failed to make the American track squad after a poor performance at her trials.

Instead, Harrison will have to settle for her record-breaking night at the London Diamond League meet being her crowning moment of the summer.

The 23-year-old Harrison ran 12.20 seconds on the site of the 2012 Olympics to surpass Yordanka Donkova's previous mark of 12.21 set in August 1988; before the American was born.

"Not making the Olympic team I was really upset," Harrison said. "And I wanted to come out here and do what I know what I could have done (in Rio)."

Even sweeter for Harrison was finishing ahead of compatriots Brianna Rollins and Kristi Castlin, who both qualified for the Olympics ahead of her.

"You have one bad day but I knew I still had it in me," Harrison said, referring to her sixth-place finish at the US trials earlier this month. "I was coming out here with just vengeance to show these girls what I have."

Bolt rarely has anything to prove to anyone. But the six-time Olympian champion had to show in London that he hasn't been slowed by the hamstring injury that led to him withdrawing from his country's Olympic trials.
In his first 200-meter race of the season, the world's fastest man ran 19.89 seconds at the same Olympic Stadium where four years ago he took golds from the 100, 200 and 4x100-meter relay races. On Friday, Bolt finished ahead of Alonso Edward of Panama and British runner Adam Gemili, clocking below LaShawn Merritt's world-leading time of 19.74.

"I'm not fully in shape. I need more work but over time I will be fine," Bolt said. "I could feel the rust. The execution up there wasn't perfect but it was my first run so I can't complain."

The only complaints Bolt had were targeted at American rivals who had lightly suggested — not strongly — that he got preferential treatment by being allowed to skip the Jamaican trials.

"I felt it was a joke," the Bolt said. "I felt it was a disrespect the fact they think I'd back out of a trials. Me, Usain Bolt who has proven myself year (after) year that I'm the greatest.

"I laughed when I heard it. I was disappointed, especially in Justin Gatlin."

Elsewhere in London, there was a trio of French winners: Jimmy Vicaut ran a sluggish 100 meters in 10.02 seconds, Pierre-Ambroise Bosse clocked 1 minute, 43.88 seconds in the 800 and Renaud Lavillenie cleared 5.9 meters in the pole vault.

Olympic triple jump Christian Taylor prepared for his defense in Rio by reaching 17.78 meters.

There were a couple of victories for British women on the fast newly-laid track: Laura Muir in the 1,500 as well as the quartet of Asha Philip, Desiree Henry, Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita in the 4X100-meter relay.

The meet continues for a second day on Saturday.

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