From Clayton Goodwin, trackside, Stade de France, St Denis, Paris

BOLT OUTPACES POWELL – NOW “TO WORK ON MY STRENGTH”

Jamaican trio sweep the 100 metres honours
Kenyans command the middle/longer distances

Usain Bolt came, saw and conquered. It has to be that way really considering the individual publicity he had received in the lead up to well-attended  - just over 45,500 spectators - Meeting Areva of the Samsung Diamond League series at the Stade de France, St Denis, Paris. Throughout the evening the large-screens towering over the arena flashed the message that it was now just so-many minutes to the men’s 100 metres, the climax of the competition. Yet the race, itself, was something of an anti-climax – if anything involving the sensational Jamaican can be anything of an anti-climax. Perhaps it has something to do with it being Paris, because several years ago in the same city I saw Tim Montgomery (U.S.A.) set a then new record for the 100 metres without the achievement being really etched on my memory.
For once Bolt started slowly – for him. For a very split second it seemed that compatriot Asafa Powell would have the edge on him. Then Usain changed a gear and won ocmofrtably enough in 9.84 seconds. “I had a good race, but my strength still isn’t at my normal level,” said Bolt, who knocked 0.01 from Powell’s meeting record set four years ago. “Now I’m flying home to work on my strength." Accepting defeat, Powell, the former World record holder, eased up over the final 10 metres to reach the line in 9.91. A third Jamaican, Yohan Blake, one of Bolt’s training partners, was third in 9.95, a 0.01 improvement on his career best.
The lack of intensity had nothing to do with events on the track but from something missing among the spectators. There were no Jamaican flags – I looked intensely but in vain. Just under a year ago the whole of Berlin, not only the stadium but the streets of the city and the public transport system, had been a sea of Jamaican banners for the World Championships. It is such a pity that tax considerations prevent Bolt from participating in the Crystal Palace, London meeting next month – for there, whatever happens, Jamaican banners will flaut the sky and fan their rivals cold.
In spite of the absence of top Ethiopian competitors Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar, Vivian Cheruiyot followed her win in Lausanne last weekby taking on a strong field in the women’s 5,000 metres. There were no spectacular changes of pace or enchanting tactics the 26 year-old Kenyan, shorter in stature than most of her rivals, just the others down. When Sentayehu Ejigu refused to be shaken off Cheruiyot just kicked in and won by 14:27.41 to 14:28.39 (a personal best). Elyan Abeylegesse finished third in 14:31.52
Brimin Kipruto, 24 years-old, another Kenyan winner from Lausanne, set a 8:00.90 personal best, and a meeting record, in winning the 3,000 metres steeplechase. His compatriots Paul Kipsiele and Ezekiel Kemboi followed him home on 8:02.07 second and 8:03.79 third respectively. Sudan’s Abubaker Kaki, clear winner of the 800 metres in 1:43.50, challenged the Kenyans’ supremacy in the men’s middle-distance events. World Mbulaeni Mulaudzi of South Africa was second in 1:44.11
Yarelis Barrios of Cuba dominated the women’s discus with a meeting record throw of 65.53 metres. She said afterwards : “Technically it wasn’t too good, but I’m happy with another Diamond League win,”.  Barrios has now won her last five competitions.