French 100m sprinter Vicaut posts season best 9.86s

The 24-year-old had clocked 9.99 sec at Rome’s Diamond League last Thursday, enough to qualify for the August 5-21 Rio Games.

“I thought I’d put in a big time today. I’m really satisfied with that,” said Vicaut after the race.

French sprinter Jimmy Vicaut posted a season-best 100m time of 9.86 sec to equal his own European record in Montreuil on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old had clocked 9.99 sec at Rome’s Diamond League last Thursday, enough to qualify for the August 5-21 Rio Games.

He became co-holder of the European 100m record on July 4, 2015 in Paris when he matched the mark set by Portugal’s Francis Obikwelu at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

“I thought I’d put in a big time today. I’m really satisfied with that,” said Vicaut.

His time is the quickest 100m run anywhere in the world this year, ahead of Qatari Femi Ogunode (9.91), veteran Kim Collins (9.93) and Justin Gatlin (also 9.93).

Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt, set to defend his 100m, 200m and 4x100m Olympic titles in Brazil, has run the blue riband distance this year in 9.98 last month in Ostrava.

The six-time Olympic gold medallist owns the 100m world record at 9.58.