Athletics: Bolt opens season with a blast

World Record holder Usain Bolt, center left, of Jamaica, crosses the finish line first to win the 100m dash. Photo / AP

Double world record-holder Usain Bolt shook off two false starts to open his 2012 season with a world-leading 9.82 seconds to win the 100m at the Jamaica International Invitational today.

Bolt, running his first individual 100m of the season, looked in control from the start as he posted an easy victory over compatriots Michael Frater (10.0) and Lerone Clarke (10.03).

He improved on the previous best time of the year, the 9.90 clocked by Jamaican Yohan Blake on April 14 in Kingston.

Bolt, his sights set on defending his Olympic titles at the London Games that start in July, said the time shows he's in better shape than he was at the same time last year.

But he said he has room for improvement.

"There were some mistakes in the race, my coach (Glen Mills) pointed them out and we will be fixing them in training," Bolt said.

He said he was slow out of the blocks after the two false starts.

The first was ruled a technical error, then Trinidad's Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson was disqualified for a false start but allowed to run under protest.

-AAP