BRUSSELS (AP) — Usain Bolt ran the season's fastest time in the 100 meters at the Van Damme Memorial on Friday but was upstaged by fellow-Jamaican Yohan Blake, who had the second fastest 200 in history.
Bolt came from behind to finish in 9.76 seconds to improve on the mark of fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell by 0.02 seconds. Minutes later, 100 world champion Blake set a time of 19.26 seconds in the 200, 0.07 seconds off Bolt's two-year-old world record.
After false-starting in the final of the 100 at the world championships three weeks ago, Bolt wanted to finish his season on a high note. Nesta Carter was second in 9.89 and another Jamaican, Lerone Clarke, finished in 10.05.
Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele ran the year's fastest 10,000 meters, winning in 26 minutes, 43.16 seconds. Cheered by 40,000 fans at the King Baudouin stadium, took the lead from Kenyan Lucas Rotich with a lap to go.
Galen Rupp was third, setting an American record in 26:48. He broke the previous record by a full 11 seconds, set by Chris Solinsky in April 2010.
The 21-year-old Blake may be Bolt's main challenger at next year's Olympics. After Bolt false started in the final of the 100 at the world championships, Blake didn't blink and blasted out the blocks to win his first major title instead.
Now, he proved he has the stamina to match the explosiveness over 200 meters, where Bolt, the Olympic and double world champion, was long considered to be in a class of his own.
Bolt could only watch his training partner in admiration.
From lane 5, Bolt's start was better than his preceding races but he still needed to fight hard to pull even with Nesta Carter. From then on, he surged ahead and did what he promised to do — get the fastest time of the season.
"I came here to do it," Bolt said. "I am happy. I got a win and that was needed," he said.