Disappointed with false start – 9.85 nonetheless

Powell, who opened the hunt with a 9.98 seconds win in at the Exxon Mobil Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway, on 2 June, recovered well after making a false start to win the race in 9.85.

"It (the race) was just okay," said Powell, who last month became the first man to equal his own world record of 9.77 at a meeting in Gateshead. "I was hoping for something more. But the only mistake I made tonight was my false start.

"It was a great race, even if I'm a little disappointed with the time," the Jamaican super-star added.

The 2006 Commonwealth Games champion defeated American sprinter Marcus Brunson (10.08) and Martinique-born French star Ronald Pognon (10.11), on his way to shattering the 9.96 meet record, which was shared by a trio of Leroy Burrell and Maurice Greene, each of whom were former world record holders, and Namibian veteran Frank Fredericks.

World Indoor champion Leonard Scott finished fourth in 10.16, just ahead of Jamaica's World silver medallist Michael Frater, at 10.17. The other Caribbean runners in the race were Netherlands Antilles' Churandy Martina (10.21) in eighth place and former World Junior silver medallist Marc Burns of Trinidad and Tobago, who crossed at 10.27 for ninth.

Former Jamaica sprint double champion Dwight Thomas posted 10.24 to win the second section of the event, ahead of World junior record holder Darrel Brown (10.28) of Trinidad and Tobago.

Ferguson McKenzie's Golden run over – Jones catches Simpson in thriller

Bahamian Debbie Ferguson McKenzie’s brief Golden League hunt came to an end after she was soundly beaten into fourth place by former multi Olympic champion Marion Jones of the USA, who is making an incredible comeback to track and field.

If Ferguson McKenzie was to stay in contention, she would have to significantly improve on her season's best and when she failed in her bid, Jones powered home to win the race in 10.92.

The American caught world-leader Sherone Simpson in the last 30m to produce her best performance since winning in 10.90 at the IAAF 2002 World Cup in Madrid.

Simpson, the Commonwealth Games champion over 200m and world-leader in both the short sprint events, was second in 10.98. Ex-world champion Torri Edwards of USA picked up third in 11.06. Next was Ferguson McKenzie, who came home in 11.16.

Richards never challenged

The impressive run of Jamaican-born Sanya Richards in the one lap event continued as she too stayed in contention for the million dollar shared prize with another sub-40 seconds clocking to win the women's 400m.

The World silver medallist broke the tape in 49.73 seconds, the second fastest time of the year behind her own 49.27 performance. A personal best and national record of 49.96 saw Bulgarian Vanya Stambolova taking second ahead of 2001 World champion Amy Mbackë Thiam of Senegal, at 50.54.

Shericka Williams of Jamaica was fifth in 50.97, while Christine Amertil, Bahamian 2006 IAAF World Indoor bronze medal winner, placed sixth in 51.36.

Francique’s poor form continues

The men's race saw Grenada's back-to-back reigning World indoor champion Alleyne Francique finishing in the basement position in 45.50, way below his 44.94 season's best performance.

The race was impressively won by American 21-year-old World and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner, who clocked a remarkable career best time of 43.91 seconds to defeat countryman Andrew Rock (45.06) and Canada's Tyler Christopher (45.16).

Third for Robles and Foster-Hylton

Cuban 19-year-old Dayron Robles, the World indoor 60m Hurdles silver medallist produced a career best 13.11sec in taking third in the men's 110m hurdles. Robles, who surprised everyone in Moscow with his performances in every round, finished behind Americans Terrence Trammell (13.06) and Dominique Arnold (13.08).

Former world silver medallist and 2006 Commonwealth Games champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton of Jamaica also took third in the women's race in 12.66. In a close finish the Jamaican was nudged out by Sweden's Susanna Kallur (12.61) and USA's Damu Cherry (12.62). World silver medallist Delloreen Ennis-London finished seventh in the event in 12.85.

Other results in the evening saw Cuba's Guillermo Martínez established an area record with a personal best 87.17m finish in the men's Javelin Throw, Trinidad-born world indoor 400m record holder Kerron Clement, competing for USA finished second in the men's 400m hurdles in 48.57m. Jamaica's Olympic silver medallist Danny McFarlane clocked his second fastest this season, a 48.95 timing for fourth, while Kemel Thompson, also of Jamaica posted 49.02 for fifth.

The four athletes still in contention for a share of the million dollar Golden League jackpot are Powell (100m), Wariner (400m), Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba (women's 5000m), and America's Sanya Richards (women's 400m).