• Diamond League - Monaco

Struggling Bolt snatches victory in Monaco

Usain Bolt smiled sheepishly after snatching victory © PA Photos

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Usain Bolt lacked his usual style as he was made to battle all the way for a tight victory in the men's 100m at Monaco's Diamond League meeting on Friday.

Bolt crossed the line in a time of 9.88s to see off fellow Jamaican Nesta Carter by 0.02s, but the shake of the head during his victory lap told the full story. The world record holder got a sluggish start and never found his usually unrivalled rhythm as Carter threatened a huge upset.

When Bolt is on top form, like when he set his record mark of 9.58s, he floats across the track in a fashion his rivals are yet to imitate. However, Monaco did not witness a Usain Bolt who is on top of his game, and it was only in the last 15 metres that he earned his victory.

He did, however, post a season's best which suggests improvement, although Asafa Powell remains the fastest man this year with a time of 9.78s.

Great Britain's Mo Farah set the world leading time in the men's 5000m to confirm his reputation as a genuine gold medal hope at next year's Olympics. Farah has been in sensational form during 2011, but never has he run as fast as he did in Monaco, setting a new British record whilst setting the benchmark for others to aspire to this season.

In a powerful field, Farah saw off the close attentions of the great Bernard Lagat to claim victory in a time of 12:53.11. The previous fastest time this year had been set by Ethopia's Imane Merga, but Farah smashed his marker of 12:54.21. The Brit, however, still remains some way short of Kenenisa Bekele's world record time of 12:37.35.

Phillips Idowu added to British joy with victory in the triple jump, which he won with a leap of 17.36m. It wasn't the highest quality competition of the year, with Idowu's winning mark falling way short of the year's leading jump of 17.91, but the Brit continues to show he has the winning mentality.

Another British national record was broken in the women's 100m hurdles, where Tiffany Ofili-Porter came third in a time of 12.60s. She was edged out narrowly by the fastest woman this year, Sally Pearson, who clocked 12.51s. Kellie Wells of the US was second.

There was disappointment for the 2010 European and Commonwealth gold medallist, Dai Greene, who did not get close to threatening his personal best in the 400m hurdles. Greene's best time is an impressive 47.88s, but he could only record a run of 48.43s to finish third behind Angelo Taylor and Bershawn Jackson. Taylor's winning time would have been beaten by Greene's personal best.

Goldie Sayers also failed to get anywhere close to her prime, finishing fourth in the javelin with a throw of 60.97m. Her personal best is over 65m, highlighting her failure to step up to the plate on Friday. Czech athlete Barbora Spotakova took first place with a toss of 69.45m - the longest throw of the year.

Elsewhere, Lisa Dobriskey produced a season's best as she finished eighth in the women's 1500m.

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