Sweet victory for Asafa

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP):

Asafa Powell capi-talised on Usain Bolt's weak start and edged the world-record holder by one-hundredth of a second, leading from start to finish in the 100 metres at the DN Galan meet yesterday.

Powell, the former world-record holder, won their highly anticipated rematch in 9.88 seconds. Bolt, 9.89, rallied after his poor start to nearly catch his fellow Jamaican at the finish. Norwegian Jaysuma Saidy Ndure was third in 10.06.

Measure of revenge

The win was a measure of revenge for Powell, who lost to his close friend at Jamaica's Olympic Trials last month.

"I was really happy with the race," Powell said. "My goal was to win. My start was quick and fast. And the speed stayed with me through the finish. I'm really looking forward to the Olympics."

Bolt set the world record of 9.72 in New York on May 31, breaking Powell's mark of 9.74.

It was Powell's third straight win at Olympic Stadium. Last year, he won in 10.04. In 2006, he set the stadium record of 9.86.

Earlier, Dayron Robles missed his world 110-metre hurdles world record by just 0.04 seconds, winning the race in 12.91.

Robles' time was the fourth fastest in history, tied with Colin Jackson of Britain. Liu Xiang of China ran a 12.88 and Dominique Arnold of the United States clocked 12.90 in 2006.

Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner won his third straight 400-meter race, but failed to improve the stadium record he set last year.

The American slowed near the finish and crossed in 44.29. It was 0.39 off his meet record that earned him a diamond last year.

Chris Brown of the Bahamas finished second in 44.53 and Ricardo Chambers of Jamaica third in 44.84.

In the 100m, Nesta Carter became the fifth Jamaican man to run sub-10 seconds when he clocked 9.98 to take the 'B' race.

Jamaica's Sheri-Ann Brooks, the Commonwealth Games champion, was third in the women's 'B' 100m, but seventh overall.

Out overall

Shelly-Ann Fraser (11.20) and Sherone Simpson (11.25) were fifth and seventh, respectively, in the 'A' race, but out of the top eight overall.

Novlene Williams was a second place finisher in the women's 400m in 50.85 behind American Sanya Richards (50.38).

Shericka Williams was fourth in 51.17, while national champion Rosemarie White (52.09) was eighth.

In the women's 100m hurdles, Delloreen Ennis-London clocked 12.70 for third, while Vonette Dixon (12.76) was sixth and Brigitte Foster-Hylton (13.07) was eighth.