Jamaican sprint star slow out of the blocks at Norway meet, but still wins

Jamaica's world record holder Usain Bolt blamed a new type of starting blocks after being made to work for victory in the 100 meters at the Diamond League meeting in Oslo on Thursday.

Bolt found himself in the unusual position of second, behind compatriot Asafa Powell with 10m to go, before edging ahead to win in a meet record of 9.79 seconds.

"The blocks have changed from last season," the Olympic champion told a news conference.

"For me, when I came on the blocks, the reaction was good but the execution - because I was less comfortable - execution from the blocks was not that good.

"I'm not very happy with my new blocks. I think I need to go back to the old blocks.

"When I get everything all right, I can really relax and be myself. Now there are a few things I need to work on, so I'm trying to get those things right and then I can get back to being myself," Bolt said.

After crossing the line, Bolt collided with a flower girl on the track, catching her as she stumbled and then hugged her with a big grin on his face.

Powell's time of 9.85 was his best of the season and Lerone Clarke completed a Jamaican sweep of the top three with a time of 10.10.

Powell, who was well beaten by Bolt in Rome a week ago appeared much happier with his performance this time out.

"It was a season best, which is what I need right now, to keep improving," the former world record holder told reporters.

"This is not the Olympics and I wasn't really training for this event. This means that it (the Olympics) is going to be awesome."

Australia's 100m hurdler Sally Pearson, who like Bolt is red-hot favorite to win her event at the London Olympics, appeared none the worse for wear after her 29-hour trip to Norway with a comfortable victory in 12.49, equaling her world-leading time.

The world champion led from start to finish and finished clear of American Kristi Castlin, who was second in 12.56.

Britain's former heptathlon world champion Jessica Ennis was disqualified from the event for a false start.

"My start was really good I thought. I started to fatigue a little towards the end which I think is quite understandable," Pearson told reporters.

"I travelled 29 hours to get here so I'm a bit jet-lagged but I'm doing well.

"I think I put myself in the position I want to be in, I like being chased so it keeps me on my toes and it keeps me hungry to stay being the best in the world," she told the BBC.

Double Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele's issues with form continued when he could manage fifth only over the 5,000m on a sunny evening.

Bekele, hoping for an unprecedented third successive 10,000 gold in London, has struggled with calf and knee injuries in recent years.

The Ethiopian world record holder clocked 13 min, 0.54 sec. His brother Tariku had led the race into the final lap but compatriot Dejen Gebremeskel made his move with 200 to go and won in 12.58.92 as Ethiopians took the top five places.

Olympic 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop of Kenya strode away from the rest of the field in the final straight to win the mile event in 3:49.22 and compatriot Milcah Chemos recorded the fourth-fastest time of 9:07.14 when winning the women's 3,000m steeplechase.

There was disappointment for home favorite Andreas Thorkildsen who was third in the Javelin with a best throw of 82.30 meters.

The event was won by Vitezslav Vesely of the Czech Republic. However, Olympic champion Thorkildsen fared better than German rival Matthias De Zordo - the man who took his world title - who was fifth with a throw of 81.44.

Reuters in Oslo