Usain Bolt closed out the season on Friday with another win in the 100 meters, finishing in 9.80 seconds in the Memorial Van Damme.

The time, sluggish by his stellar, world-record standards, confirmed what Bolt himself acknowledges, 2013 hasn’t been a vintage year for the world and Olympic champion.


“I’ve been smiling ever since I got to the stadium, because I know it’s the last one,” Bolt said about his final race of the year.


Over 200 meters, Bolt’s best was 19.66, again when collecting gold in Moscow. That makes 2013 his slowest season over that distance since 2007, when his best time was 19.75.



Michael Rodgers of the United States was second in 9.90, a season’s best for him.


Justin Gatlin, the world silver medallist, got a quick start but couldn’t stay with Bolt, running to his left in the fifth lane. Gatlin faded to fourth in 9.94. The American was the only sprinter to beat Bolt in the 100 in 2013, besting the Jamaican by a hundredth of a second in Rome in June.


In the 200, Warren Weir held off fellow Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade to win in 19.87. Weir took silver behind Bolt in Moscow. Ashmeade clocked 19.93, his best for 2013. Walter Dix of the United States also ran a season best for him of 20.12 in third.

Olympic and world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce powered out of the blocks for another untroubled win in the women’s 100.


Olympic and world champion Sandra Perkovic of Croatia was the comfortable winner of the women’s discus. Her first throw of 67.04 meters beat Gia Lewis-Smallwood of the United States (64.82) and Melina Robert-Michon of France, silver medallist at the worlds, who threw 63.45.

Ryan Whiting of the United States, the season’s top performer and silver medallist at the world championships, won the shot put contest with his third toss of 21.45 meters.

The Results:

Men: 100m: 1. Usain Bolt (Jam) 9.80 sec, 2. Mike Rodgers (USA) 9.90, 3. Nesta Carter (Jam) 9.94. 200m: 1. Warren Weir (Jam) 19.87, 2. Nickel Ashmeade (Jam) 19.93, 3. Walter Dix (USA) 20.12. 400m: 1. Martyn Rooney (GBR) 45.05, 2. Jonathan Borlee (Bel) 45.05, 3. Matteo Galvan (Ita) 45.35. 800m: 1. Mohammed Aman (Eth) 1min 42.37s, 2. Nick Symmonds (USA) 1:43.03, 3. Ferguson Rotich Cheruiyot (Ken) 1:43.22. 5,000m: 1. Yenew Alamirew (Eth) 12:58.75, 2. Bernard Lagat (USA) 12:58.99, 3. Hagos Gebrhiwet (Eth) 12:59.33. 400m hurdles: 1. Jehue Gordon (Tri) 48.32, 2. Omar Cisneros (Cub) 48.59, 3. Javier Culson (Pur) 48.60. Triple jump: 1. Teddy Tamgho (Fra) 17.30m, 2. Christian Taylor (USA) 16.89, 3. Will Claye (USA) 16.88. Pole vault: 1. Renaud Lavillenie (Fra) 5.96m, 2. Konstadþnos Filippþdis (Gre) 5.74, 3. Augusto de Oliveira (Bra) 5.74. Shot put: 1. Ryan Whiting (USA) 21.45m, 2. Georgi Ivanov (Bul) 20.95, 3. Ladislav Pràsil (Cze) 20.79. Javelin: 1. Tero PitkØmØki (Fin) 87.32m, 2. Vþtezslav Vesely (Cze) 86.67, 3. Antti Ruuskanen (Fin) 83.64.

Women: 100m: 1. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jam) 10.72, 2. Alexandria Anderson (USA) 10.97, 3. Carrie Russell (Jam) 10.99. 400m: 1. Natasha Hastings (USA) 50.36, 2. Amantle Montsho (Bot) 50.41, 3. Antonina Krivoshapka (Rus) 50.51. 1,000m: 1. Nelly Jepkosgei (Ken) 2:35.43, 2. Winny Chebet (Ken) 2:35.73, 3. Yekaterina Kupina (Rus) 2:36.45. 1,500m: 1. Abeba Aregawi (Swe) 4:05.41, 2. Mercy Cherono (Ken) 4:05.82, 3. Hellen Onsando Obiri (Ken) 4:06.92. 100m hurdles: 1. Dawn Harper (USA) 12.48, 2. Sally Pearson (Aus) 12.63, 3. Cindy Billaud (Fra) 12.69. 3,000m steeplechase: 1. Milcah Chemos Cheywa (Ken) 9:15.06, 2. Sofia Assefa (Eth) 9:15.26, 3. Hiwot Ayalew (Eth) 9:15.85. High jump: 1. Svetlana Shkolina (Rus) 2.00m, 2. Anna Chicherova (Rus) 1.98, 3. Emma Green Tregaro (Swe) 1.96. Triple jump: 1. Caterine Ibargyen (Col) 14.49m, 2. Kimberly Williams (Jam) 14.34, 3. Olha Saladuha (Ukr) 14.31. Discus: 1. Sandra Perkovic (Cro) 67.04m, 2. Gia Lewis-Smallwood (USA) 64.82, 3. Mºlina Robert-Michon (Fra) 63.45.

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