Asafa Powell led home a Jamaican 1-2-3 in the 100 meters at the Diamond League event in Birmingham Sunday although the damp conditions meant the former world record holder had to be content with a time of 9.91 seconds. Powell had clocked a 2011 world leading 9.78 in Lausanne 10 days ago but, without the challenge of facing the injured Tyson Gay, he still performed in a manner which again underlined his well-being ahead of next month's world championships where Olympic and world champion Usain Bolt awaits. “I was only going to do enough to win today. I didn't want to push too hard,” said Powell who kept his concentration after two false starts to finish ahead of Nesta Carter (9.93) and Michael Frater (10.01). The biggest cheers from a sell-out 12,500 crowd were reserved for Britain's Mo Farah who bounded clear in impressive fashion to win the men's 5,000m in 13:06.14. European champion Farah clocked a final lap of 54 seconds, a pace that proved far too hot for rivals including Ethiopian Imane Merga, the fastest man at the distance this year but beaten into third Sunday. Fellow Briton Dai Greene again demonstrated his credentials as a medal contender at the worlds with an impressive 400m hurdles victory in a season best time of 48.20. The 25-year-old Welshman, winner in Lausanne, began strongly but saved enough in reserve to hold off fast-finishing 2005 world champion Bershawn Jackson of the United States by two hundreds of a second with Puerto Rican Javier Culson third. American Bianca Knight gained compensation for missing out on a place in either of the US 100m and 200m squads for the worlds by upstaging compatriots Marshevet Myers and Carmelita Jeter over the half lap. Knight, 22, clocked 22.59, the same time as Myers with Jeter, twice a world bronze medallist over 100, third in 22.62. Jeter will contest both the 100 and 200 in Daegu with Myers in the 100. The expected triple jump duel between world and European champion Phillips Idowu and world indoor record holder Teddy Tamgho never materialized with Briton Idowu comfortably winning with a 17.54m leap. Tamgho managed just 16.74 for fifth place. Australian Sally Pearson laid down the gauntlet to her American rivals in the women's 100m hurdles with a personal best and world leading time of 12.48. Pearson clocked 12.52 with compatriots Virginia Crawford and Kellie Wells third and fourth. In other events, double women's world high jump champion Blanka Vlasic of Croatia put recent below-par efforts behind her with a winning leap of 1.99m and Botswana's Commonwealth champion Amantle Montsho easily won the women's 400m in 50.20. __
