Usain Bolt recovered from a poor start to win the 100 meters in 9.79 seconds Thursday in the Bislett Games, beating Asafa Powell by 0.06 seconds in the Diamond League meet.
Bolt, the three-time Olympic champion, overtook Powell in the closing strides to remain undefeated this year. The Jamaican star hasn't lost since failing to defend his title in the 2011 world championships in South Korea after being disqualified in the final for a false start.
Lerone Clarke was third in 10.10, completing a Jamaican sweep.
''When I came out from the blocks, I reacted good. But the execution, because I wasn't as comfortable as I wanted to be, wasn't that good during the first 30 meters,'' Bolt said. ''Asafa got into his running form way quicker than me and got the top speed, while I had to work a little harder to get into my stride. But the good thing is I still got it — I ran past him, so I'm happy.
''I have run world records where my coach has said the race wasn't perfect.''
Bolt improved his head-to-head record against Powell to 11-1. It was Bolt's third-fastest time of the season, behind the 9.76 he ran to win in Rome last week and a 9.82 in Jamaica.
Powell, whose only win over Bolt came in 2008 in Stockholm, took plenty of positives from the race.
''Tonight, I proved that I have it in me,'' Powell said. ''I did my own thing. Normally, people say I can't perform under pressure. I think I performed under pressure tonight. I knew if I ran like I was supposed to, that it was going to be close. I was either going to win or it was going to be close. I am satisfied. I still have a long way to go (to the Olympics) ... You never know. You might see another result at the Olympics.''
World champion Sally Pearson won the 100 hurdles, finishing in a season-best 12.49. The Australian was making her European debut this year.
Kristi Castlin of the United States followed in 12.56, and Tiffani Porter of Britain was third in 12.70. Americans Lolo Jones was fifth, followed by teammate Danielle Carruthers. In the men's 400 hurdles, Javier Culson of Puerto Rico won in 47.92. Trinidad & Tobago's Jehue Gordon followed in 48.78, and American Justin Gaymon was third in 48.97. World champion David Greene of Wales finished fourth in 48.98.
World indoor champion Renaud Lavillenie of France took the pole vault at 19 feet, 1 inch, and Vitezslav Vesely of the Czech Republic won the javelin at 289-1.
In the women's high jump, Chaunte Howard of the U.S. cleared 6-5 1/2 on her first attempt, a height that Olympic champion Tia Hellebaut of Belgium failed to clear.
In the women's 3,000 steeplechase, Kenya's Milcah Chemos won in 9:07.14.
