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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 10:50 a.m., Saturday, February 14, 2009

Track and field: Bolt wins 400 meters at Jamaica Camperdown Classic

By ANTHONY FOSTER
Associated Press Writer

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In his first race this year, Olympic star Usain Bolt won the 400 meters in 46.35 seconds today at the Jamaica Camperdown Classic.

He slowed in the last 50 meters, smiling while looking right and left in winning this event for the second straight year. Bolt refrained from his famed celebratory dance at the finish. Instead, he was greeted by his masseuse for a rubdown.

"The first 300 meters of the race was good, but the last 100 meters need some work," Bolt said. "I am not really in the best of shape, but I'm happy I got through it."

Bolt led a Jamaican sweep, with Yohan Blake second in 46.88 and Ricardo Chambers third in 46.98. The meet at Stadium East drew more than 2,000 international athletes.

Bolt won the 400 in 45.92 and set a personal best of 45.35 in 2003. Michael Johnson holds the world record of 43.18, set in 1999.

Usain broke two world records at the Beijing Games in winning the 100 meters in 9.69 seconds and the 200 in 19.30. He also helped Jamaica win the gold in the 400 relay.

Bolt won Sportsman of the Year 2008 for Jamaica on Friday. He also took the IAAF Male Athlete of the Year award and Jamaica's Track and Field Male Athlete of the Year.