NEW YORK, USA — After holding off former training partner Zharnel Hughes and compatriot Julian Forte in the 200m at yesterday’s IAAF Diamond League meeting at Icahn Stadium on Randalls Island, New York, world record holder Usain Bolt admitted things were not going so well after all. Bolt ran a pedestrian 20.29 seconds in to a stiffhead wind of 2.8 metres per second, then told the media his technique was way off where he hoped it would be.

“I am not happy, I am definitely not happy with my performance today,” a straightforward Bolt said, not holding back anything. “My turn was horrible. I don’t know what happened. I really can’t explain. It was really bad. It was probably one of my worst turns in my entire life. I don’t know what happened today. “After I came off the turn, I knew it wasn’t going to be fast because the turn wasn’t good, and I just wanted to get home,” Bolt said.

After telling a pre- competition press conference on Friday he was feeling good, a day later Bolt backtracked a few steps. “This season is not going too smoothly. I am trying to figure what’s going on. I need to get on top of things and work my way back, sit with my coach and try to figure out what’s going on. But with this pace, my legacy is going to be in trouble.” With his form, Bolt admitted he might have to run at the JAAA National Senior Trials in two weeks’ time, but said that decision was down to Coach Glen Mills.

Nesta Carter was third in the men’s 100m in 10.15 seconds (- 1.7m/s), as Tyson Gay won in 10.12 seconds and Trinidad’s Keston Bledmon, who ran under protest after he had false-started, was second in 10.13 seconds. Nickel Ashmeade was sixth in 10.28 seconds. Meanwhile, Samantha Henry- Robinson ran a season’s best 11.08 seconds to place second in the women’s 100m, caught close to the line by American English Gardener, who ran 11.00 seconds with Trinidad’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste third in 11.19 seconds. Schillone Calvert was sixth in 11.60 seconds.

The time tied Henry-Robinson with Veronica Campbell-Brown as the fifth fastest Jamaican this season. Henry-Robinson told the Sunday Observer she was pleased with the time, as this was her final race before the JAAA National Senior Trials in two weeks. “I started the season slower than normal this year, but it’s good to see that I am building up momentum going into the National Trials, so I am pleased,” she said.

Sherone Simpson placed third in the women’s 200m in 22.69 seconds (-2.8m/s) as Tori Bowie won in a season’s best 22.23 seconds ahead of Commonwealth games champion Blessing Okagbare-Ighotegounor (22.67 seconds). Stephenie Ann McPherson was third in the women’s 400m in 50.84 seconds, as Diamond League leader Francena McCorory ran a worldleading and meet record 49.86 seconds and the Bahamas’s Shaunae Miller took second in 50.66 seconds.

Christine Day was fifth in a season’s best 51.48 seconds, while Novlene Williams Mills did not finish the race. Anastasia Leroy was third in 52.80 seconds in the B race won by American Dee-Dee Trotter in a season’s best 51.96 seconds, with Shana Cox of Great Britain second in 52.62 seconds.

Another Jamaican, Sophia Smellie, was fourth 53.17 seconds. While not happy with her execution, Danielle Williams was third in the 100m hurdles in 12.89 seconds as American Shakira Nelvis won in 12.65 seconds and Great Britain’s Tiffany Porter third in 12.89 seconds. Shermaine Williams, Danielle’s sister, was seventh in 13.19 seconds. Roxroy Cato ran a season’s best 48.97 seconds for fourth place in the men’s 400m hurdles, his second “international race of the season”.

Cato, who was notified about the race just a few days before running, took over as the fastest Jamaican in the event from Wolmer’s Boys’ Jaheel Hyde and declared: “I am ready for trials and to make a run at making the team to the World Championships.” Annsert Whyte, who hit the final hurdle and finished at the back of the field in seventh place in 49.62 seconds, said he “jammed” his hip just before the last barrier.

Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson won the event in a season’s best 48.48 seconds, as South Africa’s LJ van Zyl was second with 48.78 seconds and Jeffrey Gibson of the Bahamas third in 48.97 seconds, also season’s bests for both men. Commonwealth Games champions O’Dayne Richards had his best Diamond League showing in a while, placing fourth while equalling his season’s best 21.00m.

Richards said that going home after his most recent meet in Europe had helped him to refocus and train, and he had high hopes for National Trials. American Joe Kovacs continued to dominate the event winning with 21.67m, while Jordan Clarke, also of the USA, was second with a season’s best 21.34m and Tom Walsh of New Zealand took third with 21.16m. Kimaarra McDonald ran a season’s best 2:02.38 minutes in the 800m and placed 11th overall