New York: Jamaica's Usain Bolt set the 100m world record here, clocking 9.72sec at the Reebok Grand Prix athletics meeting. Bolt, 21, yesterday lowered the record of 9.74sec set by compatriot Asafa Powell at Rieti, Italy, last September.

With a favorable wind of 1.7m/sec, Bolt finished ahead of 100m and 200m World Champion Tyson Gay of the United States (9.85) and American Darvis Patton (10.07).

Bolt, the 200m world championships silver medallist, had signalled his arrival on the 100m scene in this Olympic year in early May, when he clocked 9.76 - then the second-fastest time in history - at a meeting in Jamaica. Bolt's performance on a night disrupted by thunderstorms and lightning, jolted a crowd of 6,490 that included a big Jamaican contingent.

Bolt had already set the athletics world buzzing on May 3, when he clocked 9.76 - second fastest in history - at a meeting in Kingston. Even after that, the lanky Jamaican, runner-up to Gay in the 200m at last year's world championships, had said he thought the longer sprint was for him.

China's superstar hurdler Liu Xiang opted not to defend his 110m title, pulling out of the race complaining of a tight hamstring. The world record holder, Olympic and world champion still made an appearance on the track, standing next to an announcer as he explained to the crowd Liu's decision not to risk the defense of his Olympic title in Beijing in August.
Source : PTI