Kingston JAM - Usain Bolt was on fire at Saturday night's Jamaica International Invitation, posting a sizzling 9.76sec, the second fastest 100m time ever.

The Jamaica International is one of a select group of Area meetings at which points can be acquired by athletes to qualify for the IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final, to be held on 13-14 September in Stuttgart.

Bolt, the World Championships silver medallist, finished within two hundredths of a second outside countryman Asafa Powell's world record of 9.74. Bolt's performance now sees Jamaica with the world's two fastest men, and the top five times in the history of the event – Powell (9.74, 9.77 three times) and Bolt (9.76).

The world junior 200m record holder at 19.93 seconds, Bolt, led four world leading times on the night. Americans Lashinda Demus, Kerron Clement and Jamaican Kerron Stewart also achieved world leading marks.

Bolt surprised, but his coach wasn't

But, the attention cannot be too much for the Central American and Caribbean 200m record holder at 19.75 seconds, especially since he held his nerve after two false starts to blaze to such an impressive time – one which was the talking point on everyone's lips leaving the stadium.

Even his rival in the 200m, world sprint double champion Tyson Gay, who said: "It (performance) was beautiful. He was very smooth and he executed very well."

As for Bolt, who had a 1.8 m/sec wind, inside the legal limit of 2.0m/sec, admitted he was a bit shocked by the time.

"I was definitely surprised when I saw the time," said Bolt, who said he "I was in shape for a 9.85."

Asked if the performance meant he was closing in on compatriot Powell's World record of 9.74, Bolt, whose time beat Powell's stadium record of 9.84 and the world leading time of 10.00 by Trinidad & Tobago's Richard Thompson, replied: "You never know, you never know."

American Darvis Patton was second in 10.08 seconds while Antiguan Daniel Bailey was third in 10.12 in the event.

Bolt's coach Glen Mills, according to him, was the only person who was not surprised at the athlete's cracker. "I am not surprise because he has been doing well in training ... this is just the beginning," he promised.

Parade of impressive world leads

Stewart, a member of Jamaica's silver medal 4x100m team at last year's World Championships in Osaka, also blazed the track to win the women's 100m in 10.96 – her first sub-11 seconds time.

She was delighted: "I could not ask for more," she said. "I just pray that it stay that way right to the Olympic," added Stewart, who beat the previous best season best of 11.06 held by Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Trinidad & Tobago.

In the 400m Hurdles, American Clement, the world champion, took the men's race in 47.79 seconds, ahead of Danny McFarlane of Jamaica (48.74) and Michael Tinsely of United States (48.84).

"It was a great race. I just came out here and executed to my plans," Clement explained. He said he was not surprised with the fast time, which beat the previous 2008 best of 48.32 by his compatriot Bershawn Jackson.

"I made up my mind that I was coming out here to run 47 seconds," he added.

In the women's 400m Hurdles, Demus won in 54.83 seconds, beating Jamaican Shevon Stoddart (55.68) and American Markita James (56.79). Demus’s time beat the previous season best of Tiffany Williams, also of the United States (54.97).

Gay opens with 20.00 victory, junior Knight upsets Campbell-Brown

Meanwhile, World sprint double champion Tyson Gay took the men's 200m in 20.00, beating Chris Williams of Jamaica (20.78) while 19-year-old Bianca Knight (22.62) upset Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown (22.93) in the women's event.

Gay said his warm-up was a little bit off, but added: "It still was a great run for me."

Knight, who turned 19 this year and still a junior, was also third in the 100m, clocking 11.11, also a personal best.

American Sanya Richards won the women's 400m in 50.60 seconds.

Richards, who handily beat Jamaicans Novlene Williams-Mills (51.63) and Sonita Sutherland (52.94), said she wanted to run faster, but was affected after sitting down for too long.

"I am happy with the win, but I wish it was a little faster," she said while adding, "It was pretty windy on the backstretch also."

In the field, Jamaicans Herbert McGregor (7.74m) and James Beckford (7.60m) finished one-two in the men's Long Jump while American Funmi Jimoh (6.57m) beat Jamaican Jovanee Jarrett (6.57m).

Jamaican Dorian Scott (20.51m) won the men's shot put. American Dan Taylor (20.43m) was second.

Main results

MEN

100m

Race 1

1 Bolt, Usain Jamaica 9.76 1.8 (World Leader)

2 Patton, Darvis Usa 10.08 1.8

3 Bailey, Daniel Antigua 10.12 1.8

4 Rodgers, Mike Usa 10.12 1.8

5 Spearman, Wallace Usa 10.13 1.8

6 Collins, Kim St. Kitts 10.19 1.8

7 Brown, Xavier Athletico Union 10.52 1.8

Race 2

1 Deleaney, Delwayne St. Kitts 10.41 1.4

2 Forsyhthe, Mario Racers Track Club 10.43 1.4

3 Spence, Daron Jamaica 10.50 1.4

4 Young, Damion G C Foster College 10.55 1.4

5 Hamilton, Jermaine Jamalco Track Club 10.59 1.4

6 Terrilonge, Garvin G C Foster College 10.60 1.4

7 Livermore, Jason Akan Track Club 10.61 1.4

200m

1 Gay, Tyson Usa 20.00 1.2 (World Leader)

2 Williams, Chris Jamaica 20.78 1.2

3 Anderson, Marvin Jamaica 20.88 1.2

4 Campbell, Clement Jamaica 20.99 1.2

5 Armstrong, Aaron Usa 21.20 1.2

6 Jones, Garry Usa 21.96 1.2

400m

Race 1

1 Ayre, Sanjay Jamaica 45.68

2 Brines, Nery Costa Rica 45.78

3 Blackwood, Micheal Jamaica 46.20

4 Rock, Andrew Usa 46.47

5 Gonzales, Jermain Jamaica 46.75

6 Barrett, Dwayne Jamaica 47.10

7 Thompson, Oral Jamaica 48.07

8 Edwards, Tarik Jamaica 48.94

Race 2

1 Lawrence, Rayon G C Foster College 47.16

2 German, Garfield Akan Track Club 47.19

3 Mason, Michael G C Foster College 47.96

4 Robinson, Kerone Racers Track Club 48.18

5 Bennett, Teo G C Foster College 49.77

6 Anderson, Kenroy Racers Track Club 49.83

800m

1 Johnson, Jonathan Usa 1:47.51

2 Williams, Karjuan Usa 1:48.02

3 Kirk, Sherridan Trinidad & Tobago 1:48.05

4 Sappleton, Aldwyn Jamaica 1:50.63

5 Joseph, Moise Haiti 1:51.28

6 Harris, Geoff Usa 1:51.39

7 Allen, Evon Jamaica 1:51.85

1500m

1 Kithill, Josephet Kenya 3:47.51

2 Stroup, Shane Usa 3:47.85

3 Lagat, Philip Kenya 3:48.74

4 Freeman, David Usa 3:49.83

5 Drummond, Andre Jamaica 3:52.61

6 Campbell, Kemoy Jamaica 3:53.00

7 Thomas, Andre Jamaica 3:53.80

8 Brown, Kirk Jamaica 4:03.57

9 Campbell, Kevin Jamaica 4:03.97

10 Bent, Damion Jamaica 4:07.83

11 McIntyre, Wayne Jamaica 4:08.85

110mH

1 Hicks, Antwon Usa 13.21 2.5

2 Merritt, Aries Usa 13.35 2.5

3 Wignall, Maurice Jamaica 13.63 2.5

4 Wright, Decosmo Jamaica 13.76 2.5

5 Phillips, Richards Jamaica 13.84 2.5

6 Powell, David Jamaica 14.62 2.5

400mH

1 Clement, Kerron Usa 47.79 (World Leader)

2 McFarlane, Danny Jamaica 48.74

3 Tinsely, Michael Usa 48.84

4 Culson, Javier Puerta Rico 48.87 (National record)

5 Findlay, Andrian Jamaica 49.38

6 Phillips, Isa Jamaica 49.74

7 Williams, Derrick Usa 50.44

Long jump

1 McGregor, Herbert Jamaica 7.74m -2.3

2 Beckford, James Jamaica 7.60m -2.7

3 Allmond, Tony Usa 7.54m -2.1

4 Rafeal Jorge, Carlos Dominica Republic 7.31m -0.3

5 Davis, Walter Usa 7.04m -1.2

Shot put

1 Scott, Dorian Jamaica 20.51m

2 Taylor, Dan Usa 20.43m

3 Bryant, Noah Usa 19.70m

4 Battle, Sheldon Usa 19.18m

5 Roberge, Jesse Usa 18.48m

6 Smith, Maurice Jamaica 16.83m

7 Brown, Raymond Jamaica 16.61m

4x100 High school

1 Calabar High 'A' 40.35

2 Herbert Morrison High 'A' 40.42

3 Camperdown High 'A' 41.07

4 Wolmers 'A' 41.60

5 ST Georges College 'A' 41.85

6 Jamaica College 'A' 42.08

7 Holmwood Technical 'A' 42.20

4x400 High school

1 Kingston College 'A' 3:16.51

2 Calabar High 'A' 3:17.02

3 Holmwood Technical 'A' 3:18.55

4 Munro College 'A' 3:19.32

5 Wolmers 'A' 3:23.28

6 ST Jago 'A' 3:24.08

7 Camperdown High 'A' 3:30.76

WOMEN

100m

1 Stewart, Kerron Jamaica 10.96 0.9 (World Leader)

2 Hooker, Marashevet Usa 11.01 0.9

3 Knight, Bianca Usa 11.11 0.9

4 Durst, Stephanie Usa 11.29 0.9

5 Calvert, Shelonie Jamaica 11.36 0.9

6 Palmer, Nadine Jamaica 11.43 0.9

7 Fletcher, Sherry Grenada 11.44 0.9

8 Dowdie, Peta-Gaye Jamaica 11.48 0.9

200m

1 Knight, Bianca Usa 22.62 1.0

2 Campbell Brown, Veronica Jamaica 22.93 1.0

3 Solomon, Shalonda Usa 23.27 1.0

4 Leroy, Anastesia Jamaica 23.29 1.0

5 Moore, Lashauntae Usa 23.32 1.0

6 Bailey, Aleen Jamaica 23.41 1.0

7 Brooks, Sherri-Ann Jamaica 23.58 1.0

400m

1 Richards, Sanya Usa 50.60

2 Williams, Novlene Jamaica 51.63

3 Sutherland, Sonita Jamaica 52.94

4 Prendagast, Davita Jamaica 53.30

5 Trotter, Dee Dee Usa 53.39

800m

1 Clark, Hazel Usa 2:02.40

2 Burnett, Marion Guyana 2:02.98

3 Hinds, Korine Jamaica 2:03.52

4 Dohonue, Erin Usa 2:03.72

5 Teteris, Aimee Canada 2:05.13

6 Clement, Treniere Usa 2:05.35

7 Hyman, Madrea Jamaica 2:05.70

8 Vanderveen, Jose Netherlands 2:05.84

9 Williams, Ysanne Jamaica 2:05.97

100mH

1 Hayes, Joanna Usa 12.72 0.2

2 Ennis-London, Delloreen Jamaica 12.75 0.2

3 Davis, Candice Usa 12.80 0.2

4 Golding-Clark, Lacena Jamaica 13.03 0.2

5 Bliss, Andrea Jamaica 13.10 0.2

6 Doyley, Toni-Ann Jamaica 13.92 0.2

400mH

1 Demus, Lashinda Usa 54.83 (World Leader)

2 Stoddart, Shevon Jamaica 55.68

3 James, Markita Usa 56.79

4 Henry, Tresha Jamaica 58.97

5 Tracey, Shana-Gaye Jamaica 59.28

6 Tracey, Nikita Jamaica 59.71

Long jump

1 Jimoh, Funmi Usa 6.57m -2.0

2 Jarrett, Jovanee Jamaica J6.57m -1.8

3 Goulbourne, Elva Jamaica 6.56m -1.7

4 Hammond, Chelsea Jamaica 6.51m -0.9

5 Glenn, Brianna Unattached 6.24m -1.0

6 Madison, Tianna Usa 6.21m -1.6

7 Doyley, Toni-Ann Jamaica 5.95m -2.2

8 King, Tamiesha Usa 5.88m -0.7

4x100 High School

1 Edwin Allen 'A' 44.81

2 Holmwood Technical 'A' 45.70

3 Manchester High 'A' 45.84

4 ST Jago 'A' 47.06

5 St. Andrew High 'A' 47.34

6 Queens High 'A' 47.38

7 Wolmers 'A' 47.70

8 St. Elizabeth Technical 'A' 49.03

4x400 High School

1 Manchester High 'A' 3:39.95

2 Holmwood Technical 'A' 3:41.29

3 Edwin Allen 'A' 3:42.27

4 Queens High 'A' 4:03.63