 Powell fully justified his status as the pre-race favourite |
Jamaican Asafa Powell cruised to his first major championship medal in the 100m in Melbourne on Monday. The world record-holder looked superbly relaxed as he eased to gold in 10.03 seconds, ahead of Nigeria's Soji Fasuba and the Trinidadian Marc Burns.
England's only athlete in the final, Marlon Devonish, finished eighth, clocking a time of 10.30secs.
Earlier team-mate Mark Lewis-Francis was disqualified from the 100m after a false start in his semi-final.
World championship silver medallist Michael Frater, of Jamaica, was also disqualified in the same race.
Lewis-Francis told the BBC: "I've got no excuses. It's my fault. I should have kept my discipline and just waited for the gun."
The sprinter's disqualification was the third false start in his semi-final and he admitted finding it difficult to concentrate.
"The crowd was making a lot of noise and it was hard to keep my focus," he said.
"At the end of the day it's about me getting a good start. I'm just going to go home and make myself stay disciplined."
England's Carl Myerscough finished a disappointing fourth in the men's shot put, with a throw of 19.07 metres.
Australian favourite and home town boy Craig Mottram had the Melbourne crowd on their feet in the 5000m - the final track event of the day.
Mottram, who still has the 1500m to come, made a brave break for the line from a long way out, but could not shake off the Kenyan Augustine Choge.
Choge clung on to the Australian's shoulder before taking his chance and sprinting past to win in a Championship record time of 12 minutes 56.41 secs.
Mottram told the BBC he was disappointed not to get gold, but pleased with his run.
"It was a fantastic way to end the night, but unfortunately I could not get the gold," he said.
"Augustine ran a great race and he was a better man than me tonight."
England pair Robert Tobin and Martyn Rooney both won their heats to qualify for the next round of the men's 400m, but Wales' Gareth Warburton is out.
Adekunle Adesoji, of Nigeria, took gold in the men's multi-disability T12 final in a time of 11.07secs.
Australia won a clean sweep of the medals in the men's 20km walk, Nathan Deakes taking gold ahead of team-mates Luke Adams and Jared Tallent.
Identical twins Daniel and Dominic King finished in sixth and seventh place just ahead of England team-mate Andrew Penn, who was eighth.
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Athletics skills: Asafa Powell's sprint tips
Augustine ran a great race and he was a better man than me tonight