Asafa Powell (left) of Jamaica crosses the finish line to win the 100 metres event at the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart yesterday. Powell won the race ahead of Leonard Scott (right) of the United States. - Reuters

IT WAS A close call, but world-record holder Asafa Powell maintained his unbeaten record yesterday on the opening day of the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany.

Though he looked easy in the end, Powell again had to depend on his top-end speed to take him past Americans Leonard Scott and the fast-finishing Tyson Gay in the men's 100 metres.

"I felt dead in the first half of the race, but then I told myself that I can run as fast as any of these guys and then I picked up my stride and I came through in the end," Powell said.

In the end, Powell ran under 10 seconds in the 100m for a record 12th time this year. The Jamaican started slowly before charging through the last 50m to finish in 9.89 and edge Scott (9.91) and Gay (9.92).

Slow start

He said the slow start was a result of a false start.

"I was concentrating on not getting the second false start, so I stayed in my blocks a little too long," added the 23-year-old who was chasing a bonus US$100,000 for breaking the world record.

Powell still collects US$30,000 for the win, along with his share (US$249,999) of the US$1 million Golden League jackpot winnings.

Meanwhile, Allyson Felix turned the table on Jamaican and world leader Sherone Simpson in the women's 200m.

Felix equalled her personal best of 22.11 to finish ahead of Sanya Richards (22.11) and Simpson (22.22).

Felix was very happy with the win.

Personal best

"I had a lot of fun today. I knew that I could beat Sanya and Sherone and I am very happy I did. Running my PB is amasing," said Felix.

Richards, who will now turn her attention to the 400m, said, "this gives me a great boost of confidence" for today's 400.

Michael Blackwood (45.09) was the third Jamaican in action, he finished fifth in the men's 400m.

Jeremy Wariner of the US won the event in a meet record 44.02 seconds ahead of Congalese Gary Kikaya, who established a new African record (44.10).

Action continues today with 11 Jamaicans, Simpson, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Novlene Williams, Shericka Williams, Kenia Sinclair, Trecia Smith, Usain Bolt, Christopher Williams, James Beckford, Kemel Thompson and Danny McFarlane, chasing title honours.