 Bolt started the season competing over 400 metres in order to improve his speed , winning two races and registering 45 @.@ 54 s in Kingston , and windy conditions gave him his first sub @-@ 10 second finish of the season in the 100 m in March . In late April Bolt suffered minor leg injuries in a car crash . However , he quickly recovered following minor surgery and ( after cancelling a track meet in Jamaica ) he stated that he was fit to compete in the 150 metres street race at the Manchester Great City Games . Bolt won the race in 14 @.@ 35 s , the fastest time ever recorded for 150 m . Despite not being at full fitness , he took the 100 and 200 m titles at the Jamaican national championships , with runs of 9 @.@ 86 s and 20 @.@ 25 s respectively . This meant he had qualified for both events at the 2009 World Championships . Rival Tyson Gay suggested that Bolt 's 100 m record was within his grasp , but Bolt dismissed the claim and instead noted that he was more interested in Asafa Powell 's return from injury . Bolt defied unfavourable conditions at the Athletissima meet in July , running 19 @.@ 59 seconds into a 0 @.@ 9 m / s headwind and rain , to record the fourth fastest time ever over 200 m , one hundredth off Gay 's best time . 
