Athletics: Bolt beats compatriot Powell

ROME: Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt won in his first race of the season but had to dip his muscular frame at the line to beat fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell in the 100 metres event of the Diamond League. Bolt, in his first competitive outing since losing to American Tyson Gay nine months ago, was slow off the blocks and had to come through most of the field before powering ahead in the last five meters to win in 9.91 seconds in humid conditions. It was his ninth victory in 10 races against Powell, who ran 9.93 with Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre third in 10 seconds.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2011.