Asafa Powell of Jamaica wins the 100 meters race at the IAAF Golden League meeting in Zurich, 18 August 2006. AFP PHOTO / PETER KLAUNZER

Powell led home a trio of Americans in sub-10sec times, Tyson Gay and Marcus Brunson setting personal bests of 9.84sec and 9.99sec, while third-placed Leonard Scott clocked a season's best of 9.97sec.

Newly-crowned European sprint king Francis Obikwelu of Portugal could only finish in eighth and final place in 10.26sec.

"I couldn't ask for better, I've got nothing to complain about," said Powell, whose run occurred in the fabled Letzigrund Stadium, where 23 world records and more than 300 national records have been set.

"Very fast, that's how the race felt," added the 23-year-old. "I'm the only one who has ever run 9.77sec three times. I ran a world record three times. Nobody has done that before.

"One way or another there will come a time when I run under 9.77sec. A world record in (the next Golden League meets in) Brussels or Berlin? I don't know but anything is possible.

"I hope to go faster. We'll have to wait and see."

Powell has twice before clocked 9.77sec, firstly in Athens in June 2005 and the second time in Gateshead, England last month.

He shares the world record with Gatlin, the Olympic and world champion matching Powell's time in Doha in June but the American stands to lose that record should he be banned from athletics after testing positive for testosterone in April.

The result also meant that Powell remained in contention for a share of the one-million-dollar jackpot for athletes who can win all six Golden League meetings.

Allen Johnson rolled back all of his 35 years to win the men's 110m hurdles in a season's best of 13.14sec, the former Olympic and world champion beating off Cuba's Dairon Robles for his sixth win in Zurich since 1997.

Richards flagged badly in the home stretch of the 400m but did just enough to hold off Vanya Stambolova to win in 50.18sec.

Sherone Simpson made it a Jamaican sweep of the blue riband event of the 100m, easily winning in 11.09sec ahead of American duo Me'Lisa Barber and Stephanie Durst.