STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) — Complaining about a stiff back, an unusually tight bend and the windy conditions, Usain Bolt still won the 200 metres at the DN Galan meet in emphatic style yesterday in his last race before the World Championships.

There were also wins for Jamaica’s Kaliese Spencer in the 400m hurdles in a meet record of 53.74 seconds, Jermaine Gonzales in the 400m in a season-best 44.69 seconds, while Kenia Sinclair ran a season-best one minute, 58.21 in the 800m.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s super sprinter Bolt had lost over 100 metres in 2008 and 2010 at the Diamond League event, but the switch to 200 — his preferred distance — reversed his fortunes.

Bolt was never seriously troubled and cantered over the line in 20.03 seconds, well clear of Alonso Edward of Panama (20.47) and fellow Jamaican Ainsley Waugh (20.56).

LaShawn Merritt was second in the 400 metres on his return from a 21-month doping ban, while Caster Semenya’s struggles in the 800m continued as she trailed in eighth.

Bolt may not be in the recordbreaking form he showed in winning the 100 and 200 Olympic titles in 2008 and at the World Championships a year later, but he showed yesterday why he will still be the man to beat when the Worlds begin August 27 in Daegu, South Korea.

“Technically it was not a good race because the curves here are a bit tight,” Bolt said. “I was careful not to get injured before the World Championships. But generally, it was a good race despite the fact that I wanted a better time.”

Bolt said the tight bend at Stockholm’s Olympic Stadium, which was built to host the 1912 Games, had aggravated a longstanding back problem, but dismissed concerns it might affect him in Daegu.

“My back is a little bit tight on the left side and I know that’s because of the curve,” Bolt said. “I’ll be OK, no worries.”

With the World Championships looming, Semenya was hoping to find some form as she prepares to defend her title, but came in eighth in a race won by Sinclair of Jamaica.

Semenya’s time of two minutes, 1.28 seconds was a long way outside her personal best of 1:55.45, set at the World Championships in Berlin two years ago.

In the men’s 400m, Merritt made a solid return after his 21-month doping ban expired Wednesday. The world champion was in contention coming off the final bend, but tied up in the home straight and was beaten into second by Gonzales of Jamaica.

As expected, Carmelita Jeter of the United States won the women’s 100m — but failed to take home one of the $10,000 diamonds given to competitors who break the stadium record.

Like Bolt, Jeter was slowed by the wind and her time of 11.15 wasn’t enough to beat the 1994 mark of 10.90 set by Irina Privalova.

Marshevet Myers came in second for an American onetwo, ahead of Kerron Stewart of Jamaica.

Spencer of Jamaica was the only athlete to get her hands on a diamond after winning the 400m hurdles, while Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot set the third fastest time ever in the 5,000 with a superb run, finishing in 14 minutes, 20.87 seconds to set a new Kenyan record and the quickest time in the world this year.

World leader David Oliver was surprisingly beaten in the 110 hurdles by fellow American Jason Richardson. Oliver, the only man to go under 13 seconds this season, clattered four hurdles to upset his rhythm, allowing the much smoother Richardson to win in 13.17 seconds.

World record holder Dayron Robles pulled out Thursday with a foot injury.

Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway was a popular winner in the men’s javelin, just a week after the bomb and shooting attacks in his home country.

Thorkildsen, the World Championship favourite, threw a world-leading 88.43 metres with his second effort, and acknowledged the roar of approval by turning and bowing to the crowd. Mattias De Zordo of Germany was a distant second with a best of 84.37.

Olympic champion and world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva won the women’s pole vault in her first appearance at a Diamond League event with a best effort of 4.76 metres.

The Russian took a break and missed the inaugural Diamond League season last year, and has only recently returned to action.

Isinbayeva, who went out of the 2009 World Championships without registering a height, boosted her hopes of regaining the world title by beating a quality field, including worldleading Martina Strutz and world indoor champion Fabiana Murer.