SAINT-DENIS, France (AP):

Olympic and World champion Usain Bolt recovered from a poor start to win the 100 metres at the Paris Diamond League meet in 9.84 seconds yesterday.

Bolt set a new meet record and beat fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell, who finished second in 9.91. Another Jamaican sprinter, Yohan Blake, was third in 9.95.

"It wasn't the best race I've ever had in my life," said Bolt, who returned to competition in Lausanne, Switzerland, on July 9 following an Achilles injury.

"My first part was awful. At the 50 metres, I thought he (Asafa) had me. I had to work a little bit harder to get back in the race."

Bolt, the world-record holder in the 100m and 200m, pulled away in the final metres to stay unbeaten in the 100m for 14 consecutive finals.

"It's all about determination," he said. "I want to be the best, to stay on top. When you run against the best, it always pushes you to do your best all the time. I'm happy, I escaped injuries and I won the race."

Bolt and Powell, who share the fastest time this year at 9.82 seconds, met for the first time this season. Powell is the last man to have beaten Bolt in the 100m, two years ago in Stockholm.

American David Oliver posted the fastest time this year in the 110-meter hurdles, clocking 12.89 seconds, just 0.02 short of Dayron Robles' world record.

extended record

American Jeremy Wariner extended his unbeaten record in the Diamond League this season to four races, setting a season best of 44.49 seconds in the 400 metres.

The 2004 Olympic champion, who underwent knee surgery last September, easily won ahead of Jermaine Gonzales of Jamaica, who finished in 44.63 to beat his personal best. Belgium Jonathan Borlee was third with 44.77.

After taking the US 100 metres title and the 400 in Eugene, American Allyson Felix won the 200 metres in 22.14 ahead of fellow American Shalonda Solomon, who finished in 22.55.

"It's a decent time, but I wanted to go a little bit faster," Felix said. "But without Veronica Campbell-Brown in the race, it's always hard to push myself."