GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Canadian sprint star Andre De Grasse opened the outdoor season with a fast time on Saturday.

The three-time Olympic medallist from Markham, Ont., ran 9.99 seconds in the 100 metres to finish second at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational. He was narrowly beaten by American Justin Gatlin (9.98).

Because of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the 26-year-old Canadian has few races under his belt since he won silver and bronze at the 2019 world championships in Doha, Qatar.

De Grasse lives and trains in Jacksonville, Fla.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 17, 2021.