Bolt starts 2012 with world leading 9.82s

Double world record holder Usain Bolt shook off two false starts to open his 2012 season with a world-leading 9.82 seconds as he won the 100 metres at the Jamaica International Invitational on Saturday.

Bolt, running his first 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 in July, said the time shows he’s in better shape than he was at the same time last year. But there is 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 added he was slow out of the blocks after the two false starts.

World champ Blake also posted a world leading time with a 19.91 seconds in the 200m.

There was a third world leading time as Carmelita Jeter won the women’s 100m in 10.81 seconds, her third straight win in the event.

Novlene Williams Mills produced arguably the best performance of the night in the women’s 400m when she ran 49.99 seconds.

Bolt said it wasn’t a perfect race but he was happy to get his first 100m out of the way as he jump started his Olympic preparations.

“It is a good start I would say,” he said. “Better than last year so I am definitely happy with myself.

“I don’t think the execution was perfect but I think for my first race it was good.”

Bolt said the two false starts “threw me off, but I was just trying to stay focused and went out there and executed as best as possible.”