Despite the constant rain and a false start, Andre De Grasse will leave Norway with something to feel good about.
The Canadian won the 100 meters in the Diamond League competition at Bislett Stadium in Oslo with a best time of the season of 10.05 seconds, recovering from a last place in 10.21 seconds during his last race at the Prefontaine Classic in May.
De Grasse, the two-time 27-year-old Olympic bronze medalist at the event, struggled to start the 2022 season and has yet to surpass the 10-second mark. His personal best of 9.89 was set at the Tokyo Olympics, where he also won the 200m gold and helped the Canadian 4x100m relay team get the silver.
But the Oslo race puts the Canadian in the right direction with the nationals coming next week in Langley, BC, which determines the team for the July World Championships in Eugene, Ore.
“Yesterday, when I came out here I felt pretty good. I know my speed is coming back. The difference will be this start and the first 30 meters. I’m pretty happy with my first win of the season, SB, but I know I still I have a couple of things to work on, “De Grasse said.
The 200 m Olympic champion
The pair scored 10.05 (0.5) and 10.06, respectively. pic.twitter.com/CaPAdYrn1Z
– @ AthleticsWeekly
Norway’s relatively weak field, which also included the former African record Akani Simbine, faced wet conditions and a false start before coming down from the blocks.
Typically, De Grasse did not dazzle with his start, but retired late to secure his first win of the season.
“It was a good race, but the rain was a bit tricky. Despite that, it was pretty close to the 10 barrier, so I have to analyze it and get back to work,” De Grasse said.
Reece Prescod of the United Kingdom was just behind De Grasse in second place at 10.06 seconds, while Simbine completed the top three in 10.09 seconds.
De Grasse said he is now heading to Paris to run the 200m at the next Diamond League event on Saturday. Live coverage begins at 3 pm ET on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.
“It has to be very warm and sunny, which I really like. I definitely look forward to doing a couple more races,” he said.
Mitton 6th in debut
Earlier, Canadian Sarah Mitton finished sixth in her Diamond League debut.
The weightlifter threw a best throw of 18.98 meters, a far cry from the national record he set at 19.58 last month at the Golden Horseshoe Prep Meet in Hamilton, Ont.
Mitton, 25, of Brooklyn, New Zealand, threw 19.57m to win a date last week in Sweden. He finished seventh in the World Indoors in March.
Watch a replay of the Oslo meet on CBC-TV, CBCSports.ca and the CBC Sports app on Saturday at 1pm ET.