‘I don’t know what happened’ disappointed Usain Bolt says after 200m win at New York Diamond League

The 28-year-old Jamaican crossed the line with a time of 20.29 seconds to claim first ahead of Anguillan teenager Zharnel Hughes and compatriot Julian Forte in third, with close rival Justin Gatlin missing from the field.

Usain Bolt, centre, from Jamaica runs in the mens 200 meter race at the Adidas Grand Prix Track & Field Competition at Icahn Stadium in New York, New York, USA, 13 June 2015. Bolt won the race with a Show more

Double-Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt claimed victory in the 200 metres at the New York Diamond League meeting on Saturday, but was far from happy.

The 28-year-old Jamaican, who holds the world record in both the 200m and 100m, crossed the line with a time of 20.29 seconds to claim first ahead of Anguillan teenager Zharnel Hughes (20.32secs) and compatriot Julian Forte (20.46) in third, with close rival Justin Gatlin missing from the field.

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The rivalry between former doper Gatlin and Bolt is going to be one of the stories of the summer but while the American has been setting rapid times over recent weeks, Bolt was unhappy with this show.

“I’m not happy about my performance today. My turn was horrible, I don’t know what happened,” Bolt told reporters afterwards. “My worst turn ever.

“After I came off the turn, I knew it wasn’t going to be fast ... so I pretty much just wanted to get home. I didn’t really stress it too much.”

He did take some positives, though, adding on the Diamond League website: “I wasn’t too happy with the time today but training has been going well and I am looking forward to what the rest of the season has to bring.”

Bolt clocked his first-ever 100m world record at Icahn Stadium back in 2008 and had not been back since until this week and triumphed with American Gatlin absent, and the duo are likely to go head-to-head in the World Championships in Beijing in August.

American Tyson Gay took victory in the 100m race as he clocked a time of 10.12 ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Keston Bledman (10.13) with Jamaican Nesta Carter (10.15) winning bronze.

Gay, who served a ban for doping in recent years, said: “I was happy to be competing out here today in such a close race but I gave it my all and had a good race.

“I am looking forward to the rest of the season and I am happy, as always, to get a good win.”

In the 800m, Olympic champion and world record holder David Rudisha recorded a time of 1min 43.58secs to cross the line first in New York.

The 26-year-old Kenyan, who has been plagued with injuries since his London 2012 win, finished ahead of silver medal winner Boris Berian of America and Frenchman Pierre-Ambroise Bosse in third.

Rudisha was delighted with his success and has one eye on the World Championships in two months’ time.

He said: “I was very happy to get my fourth win in New York today. I felt very smooth today and I am looking to do well at the worlds.”

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