The Jamaican superstar, whose season has been disrupted by a leg injury which caused him to pull out of this month’s Paris and Lausanne meetings in the International Association of Athletics Associations’ (IAAF) Diamond League series, initially posted his season’s best time in the heats before matching it to finish ahead of United States’ Michael Rodgers and compatriot Kemar Bailey-Cole in the final. 

Bolt confirmed yesterday that he will be defending his world title in Beijing next month when American Justin Gatlin, holder of the four fastest times of 2015 with a best of 9.74, will be the biggest threat to stealing his crown. 

"I'm ready to go [to Beijing] and I'm ready to win," Bolt said after the race.

"It was smooth tonight.

"I was happy with what I did."

Great Britain’s Mo Farah, meanwhile, stormed to 3,000m success in his first competitive race on home soil since allegations of doping were aimed at coach Alberto Salazar.

The double Olympic champion crossed the line in a world leading time of 7min 34.66sec, more than two seconds clear of Morocco's Othmane El Goumri, with Kenya’s Emmanuel Kipsang completing the top three.

"The crowd have been amazing with me," said Farah.

"To come out and support me like that after the last two months was amazing.

"It's great to see the public understand and give me support."

Another British winner on the night was 20-year-old Anguilla-born sprinter Zharnel Hughes, a member of Bolt’s training group in Jamaica.

He registered a personal best time of 20.05 to win the 200m ahead of America's Dedric Dukes and South Africa’s Anaso Jobodwana.

“I didn’t expect the PB (personal best) because last week I had a niggle in my hamstring,” said Hughes.

“I was just thinking relax and get to the line.

“It’s my first time in the stadium so I wanted to perform well.

“In the Olympics Bolt was also in lane seven, so I thought if he can do it, I can do it.

"I came out and I delivered.

"I got a PB, I got the win and I got extra points in the Diamond Race, what more can I ask for?”

There was further British success in the women’s 1500m as Laura Weightman secured victory with a time of 4:06.09 to hold off a strong American challenge from Gabriele Grunewald and Katie Mackey.

The US did not have to settle for second best in the men’s 110m hurdles and women’s 100m hurdles, however, with Jason Richardson coming out on top in the former with a time of 13.19 and compatriot Jasmin Stowers prevailing in the latter.

Richardson was followed across the line by France’s Pascal Martinot-Lagarde and fellow countryman Ronnie Ash, while Stowers' meet record time of 12.47 proved too good for Dawn Harper-Nelson and Brianna Rollins in an American one-two-three.

The US also triumphed in the women’s 400m, through Natasha Hastings’ season’s best time of 50.24, and also took top honours in the women’s 4x100m relay.

Hastings finished 0.43 seconds clear of second-placed compatriot Francena McCorory, who was followed across the line by Jamaica’s Stephenie Ann McPherson.

In the 4x100m relay, the quartet of Jessica Young, Tiffany Townsend, Charonda Williams and Sanya Richards-Ross set a meet record of 42.32.

The women’s 400m hurdles crown went to Czech Republic’s Zuzana Hejnova with a time of 53.99 outdoing Americans Georganne Moline and Cassandra Tate.

Out in the field, Belgium’s Philip Milanov registered a throw of 65.14 metres to win the men’s discus with Poland's Robert Urbanek in second and Australia's Benn Harradine in third.

Italy's Marco Fassinotti, meanwhile, leapt 2.31m in the men's high jump to finish ahead of compatriot Gianmarco Tamberi and Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim, both of whom fell three centimetres short of the winning mark. 

As for the women's triple jump, Kazakhstan's Olga Rypakova penned 14.33m to top the standings with Jamaica's Kimberly Williams in second and Slovakia's Dana Veldáková in third. 

The action is due to continue tomorrow at 1:45pm local time. 



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