Eight-time Olympic sprinting champion Usain Bolt has run under 10 seconds for the first time this year as he narrowly won the 100 metres at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco.
The Jamaican was slow out of the blocks, just as he was in his last race in Ostrava last month, and never managed to put a big gap between him and the field.
He won in 9.95sec, three hundredths of a second ahead of American Isiah Young. South Africa's Akani Simbine was third in 10.02.
"Sub 10 is always good. It was an exciting race, lots of energy." Bolt, who is scheduled to retire after August's world championships, said.
Before the meeting, Bolt went to Germany to have treatment on back issues that have troubled him for years.
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It was his last outing before next month's world titles in London where he will race in the 100 metres and 4x100m relay.
"It was good, I'm going into right direction, still a lot of work to do," Bolt said.
Australia's London Olympic gold medallist Sally Pearson finished fifth in the women's 100m hurdles in 12.68 seconds, 0.17 behind winner Kendra Harrison of the United States.
The only other Australian in action was pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall, who finished equal sixth.
Olympic and world champion Wayde van Niekerk won a titanic battle against Botswana's Isaac Makwala to win the 400m in 43.73sec.
The South African's countrywoman Caster Semenya pulled clear in the last 50m to win the 800m in a world-leading time this year of 1min 55.27sec.
Kenyan Elijah Manangoi upstaged a strong field to win the men's 1500 metres in a year's best time of 3:28.80 while his compatriot Emmanuel Korir ran the fastest time of the year as he won the men's 800 metres in 1:43.10.
