Reuters
Asafa Powell (second right) of Jamaica runs to win the men's 100 metres during the Golden Gala IAAF Golden League at the Olympic stadium in Rome yesterday.

ROME, Italy (CMC)

Jamaica's world record holder Asafa Powell put the brakes on the rising Bahamian star Derrick Atkins and won the men's 100 metres at the Rome Golden League meeting yesterday evening.

Using a sizzling start, Powell dominated the marquee event and clocked 9.90 seconds to win ahead of the Bahamian Derrick Atkins (10.02).

Completing a Caribbean sweep of the event, Churandy Martina, of the Netherlands Antilles, clocked 10.10 for third.

Jamaica secured a second win on the programme when Kenia Sinclair captured the women's 800 metres.

Powell, who missed the Paris Golden League a week ago and surrendered his chance at the US$1 million jackpot for winning all his events in the Golden League series, produced a fine run and snapped an impressive four-race winning streak by Atkins, his distant cousin.

The world record holder at 9.77 seconds - a time he has recorded an amazing three times - was quickest out of the blocks and took control early.

Atkins, who won the Paris Golden League last Friday, tried in vain mid-race to challenge Powell and in the end was forced to fight off Martina for second as the big Jamaican flashed to another superb win, gazing at the infield clock as he raced - unthreatened in the last 10 metres - to victory.

It was his quickest time this year but he said he could have gone faster.

"I eased up at the finish. I didn't want to put pressure after the injury," he said.

"It was frustrating to get the injury when I did, at the start of the Golden League, but I'm happy with the way I raced here," added Powell, who will go for his biggest championship prize to date at the Osaka World Championship August 25 to September 2.

Sinclair followed up her Lausanne Grand Prix victory on Tuesday with one minute 59.45 clocking that gave her victory over Spain's Mayte Martinez (1:59.74) and Common-wealth Games champion Janeth Jepkosgei (1:59.87).

Jamaica-born American Sanya Richards stayed on course for the jackpot with an authoritative win in the women's 400 metres.

She clocked 49.77 seconds for a solid victory, chased by Senegal's Amy Mbacke-Thiam (50.15) and American Natasha Hastings (50.34).

Jamaicans Novlene Williams (50.39) and Shericka Williams (51.10) placed fourth and sixth, respectively.

American Michelle Perry, on target to successfully defending her title in Osaka next month, blazed a world-leading 12.44 seconds to land the 100-metre hurdles ahead of Spain's Josephine Onyia (12.67) and Sweden's Suzanna Kallur (12.72).

Delloreen Ennis-London, Ja-maica's 2005 World Championship silver medallist behind Perry in Helsinki two years ago, placed fifth in 12.85.

American women enjoyed a fabulous evening as sprinter Torri Edwards added another fine win for them in taking the 100 metres in 11.03 seconds ahead of another American Me'Lisa Barber (11.11).

Cydonie Mothersill of the Cayman Islands placed eighth in 11.25.