 Powell remains on course for the Golden League jackpot |
Asafa Powell's fine form continued at the Golden Gala in Rome as he stormed to victory in the 100m and matched Maurice Greene's meet record time. The Jamaican, who has won his event in the first two Golden League meetings this term, eased home in 9.85 seconds.
Marion Jones clocked her best time for four years in the women's 100m, finishing second in a time of 10.91sec.
Jeremy Wariner posted a personal-best time of 43.62sec in winning the 400m, while Kenenisa Bekele won the 5000m.
Olympic and world champion Wariner overcame up-and-coming American Xavier Carter, who finished second in 44.76sec, while Bekele edged out three challengers in a close finish to his race.
Powell's victory in the 100m means he remains on course for the $1m (�544,000) Golden League jackpot, awarded to any athlete that wins their event in all six meets in the series.
 | I feel pretty good - I am happy with the win even without the record |
And the 23-year-old Commonwealth champion brushed off the disappointment of not coming closer to beating the 9.77sec world record time he holds with rival Justin Gatlin.
"I feel pretty good. I am happy with the win even without the record," he said.
"I had a bad start. It was very slow for me. My first 30 meters were slow. But I am satisfied."
Wariner, Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba (in the women's 5,000) and Sanya Richards of the United States (women's 400) are also still in the running for the jackpot.
Jones, meanwhile, was delighted with her run despite finishing behind Jamaican Sherone Simpson in the 100m.
Simpson won in 10.87, but Jones said: "I ran my seasonal best. I am getting motivation I did not have before."
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