De Grasse earns 1st top-3 finish in 100m in over a year, ties season-best time in Ostrava

Andre De Grasse matched his season-best time and earned his first top-three finish in the 100-metre sprint in over a year at Tuesday's 62nd Ostrava Golden Spike in the Czech Republic.

Racing his first 100 in a month, the Canadian finished strong in Lane 5 and crossed the line third in 10.21 seconds, tying his performance from his season opener at the Tom Jones Memorial meet in Gainesville, Fla.

Technically, De Grasse ran faster Tuesday competing in comfortable conditions and a slight tailwind – 0.6 metres per second, compared to 1.6 m/s at the Florida event in April.

Akani Simbine was the only athlete in Tuesday's eight-man field to run under 10 seconds, prevailing in 9.98 over European indoor champion Samuele Ceccarelli of Italy (10.15).

WATCH | De Grasse clocks 10.21 seconds in 3rd 100m race of season:

For De Grasse, it was his first top-three performance since June 16, 2022 when the Markham, Ont., runner was first (10.05) at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway. Tuesday was also his 13th consecutive race above 10 seconds dating to Sept. 9, 2021 when he stopped the clock in 9.89 in the Diamond League Final, tying his personal best from the 2020 Olympic final in Tokyo.

On May 21, De Grasse went 10.16 with a significant tailwind (4.4 m/s) at the Bermuda Grand Prix.

"I can see in training things turning around — he's just running faster," Coghlan said in a recent interview with CBC Sports. "That's not a guarantee it's going to happen in [his next race]. The real thing is when you get consistent good training over a significant period."

WATCH | De Grasse posts season-best time in Oslo:

Coghlan added De Grasse is not yet in peak shape but "moving in the right direction."

Performing at a high level at the Aug. 19-27