London, UK – A cool, blustery wind put paid to any chance of fast times on the first day of the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace this evening (24), but Usain Bolt still managed to put on a show for his expectant public.

The Aviva London Grand Prix is a Super Grand Prix status meeting as part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour 2009.

Sprinting into a headwind of -1.7m/s, the Jamaican star proved to be a class apart yet again as he drew away from his opponents to win by a yawning 0.2s margin in 9.91. Bolt described his start as an improvement on Paris and hinted that he had been holding something back for better conditions.

“My start wasn’t the best but I’m improving and I know I have more work to do,” he said. “I’m in really good shape right now and I don’t see any reason to run myself out. I’m just glad I got through the race injury free.”

Yohan Blake was closest to the World record holder in 10.11 with Antiguan Daniel Bailey third, 0.02s slower. Bolt’s Jamaican rival, the former World record holder Asafa Powell, was out of the blocks well but faded badly in the second half of the race to finish sixth in 10.26.

The rain which pelted the stadium earlier in the afternoon may have moved before the main action started off but swirling winds, reaching -2.9 m/s, during the early races meant the hoped-for blistering times were going to be all but impossible.

Final round 21.82m gives Cantwell the victory over Hoffa

Not surprisingly, the top performance of the night came in the event least affected by the conditions as Christian Cantwell equalled his best of the year to win a high-class shot put competition with 21.82m.

The Olympic silver medallist snatched victory with his last throw to push fellow-American Reese Hoffa into second. It was not a bad effort considering Poland’s Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski had accidentally dropped a shot on Cantwell’s foot during the warm-up.

“I wanted to say hello and knocked the shot out of his hand,” said Majewski, who finished third with his best of the year, 21.43m, 12cm below Hoffa.

“Even if I hadn’t won on my last throw I was pretty happy with the way the day went,” said Cantwell. “All I wanted to do was reach some consistency – around 21m with every throw.”

Rogowska ends Isinbayeva’s win streak at 18

Crystal Palace has been a lucky stadium in the past for world pole vault record holder Yelena Isinbayeva. But not tonight. The Russian, who first breached 5m here in 2005, was well below par, and suffered a rare defeat as she cleared the bar only once in six attempts.

Isinbayeva’s one success came with her third attempt at 4.68, good enough only for second place as Poland Anna Rogowska managed the same height on her second while both failed poorly at 4.78m.

“It’s unusual for me to lose and I don’t know how to come second,” said the sanguine Isinbayeva afterwards. “I’ve had some injuries which hasn’t helped with my training. Now I have to get back to training and look forward to the World Championships where I will be in my best shape.”

The only vaulter who could be happy with her performance was Kate Dennison who appears to be following Isinbayeva’s lead by raising records centimetre by centimetre. The 25-year-old pushed the British record up another notch tonight, to 4.58m – good enough for fifth place.

“I feel chuffed to bits but I had to fight for it,” she said. “I feel now that I am in the mix with these girls and I am truly jumping world class heights.”

Wind dashes Farah’s 5000m NR ambitions

The blustery conditions ruined Mo Farah’s chances in his British record attempt. The European silver medallist was chasing David Moorcroft’s 5000m mark. He gave himself every chance with a bold run and although he fell some eight seconds short he still won with an impressive finish ahead of Sammy Mutahi of Kenya in 13:09.14.

“I am disappointed but the wind was just too strong,” he said.

Vlasic content with 2.02m

It was the same story for Blanka Vlasic who was the one high jumper to show any kind of form. The Croatian was the only athlete to jump higher than 1.92 and finished with a best of 2.02m, but she looked capable of going considerably higher if conditions had been easier.

“The wind was very strong, sometimes it would push me and at other times it was against,” said the World champion who came close to 2.06m on her third attempt. “I am feeling good at the moment but it is hard to jump well when you are on your own.”

Braithwaite gives Robles a scare, but the Cuban prevails

Olympic hurdles champion Dayron Robles recovered well from a poor start to maintain his unbeaten season and extend his winning streak to 11 races outdoors. The Cuban won a close contest by 0.02s from Ryan Braithwaite of Barbados, but the -2.2 wind played havoc with the hurdler’s rhythm and his wining time was a (for him) pedestrian in 13.29.

It wasn’t easy for the 400m runners either. World silver medallist Nicola Sanders continued her return to form as the Briton battled through to beat the American pair Shana Cox and Monica Hargrove in 51.54.

Sanders ran 51.21 earlier this week to qualify for Berlin and will go to the World Championships confident of making the final. “I feel fluid and a lot more confident now,” said the former European indoor champion. “I don’t know what to expect from the World Championships but I’m confident I can do well.”

There was more British success in the 800m as Jemma Simpson beat Jenny Meadows and Marylin Okoro in a repeat of their UK championships race two weeks ago. Simpson came off Okoro’s shoulder and proved too strong in the home straight, winning in 2:01.08.

Meadows was second in 2:01.35 and Okoro third in 0.33 adrift.

Canada’s world silver medallist Gary Reed won the men’s 800m in 1:45.85, holding off the advancing Pole Adam Kszczot in the closing stages. Britain’s Michael Rimmer challenged briefly but he faded to finish fourth behind American Nick Symmonds.

Ferguson-McKenzie: ‘I am too old but a week ago I realised it has nothing to do with age’

World number one Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie was too strong for USA’s Marshevet Hooker in the 200m, one of the few races run with a slight tailwind (+0.3). The Bahamian proved again that she is going to be difficult to beat in Berlin as she clocked 23.11.

“Everyone has been saying I’m too old,” said the 33-year-old. “I am too old but a week ago I realised it has nothing to do with age. Age is nothing but a number. You get better with age, like a fine wine.”

Ferguson might be an aging classic but tonight it was again Usain Bolt who provided the vintage performance.

Matthew Brown for the IAAF

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