Asafa Powell sets the pace

Asafa Powell defied an untimely downpour to run the 70th sub-10 second race of his career in the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham.

Powell had insisted before the ninth Diamond League meeting of the season that he was the man to beat this year and not third best behind fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt and American Tyson Gay.
And the 28-year-old, the fastest man in the world in 2011, looked in the mood to justify that claim as he cruised to victory in the second heat of the men's 100 metres at the Alexander Stadium in 9.95 seconds.
Powell even had the luxury of easing down and looking across at the clock several metres before the line, and if the weather improves for the final, his world best of 9.78secs could be under threat.
British trio Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Craig Pickering and Mark Lewis-Francis were left a distant fifth, sixth and seventh respectively, but veteran Marlon Devonish, 35, did advance to the final as a fastest loser from the first heat.

The rain continued to fall, but did not prevent Britain's Dai Greene from producing another impressive performance in the 400m hurdles.
The European and Commonwealth champion held off former world champion Bershawn Jackson on the line to win in 48.20s, his second Diamond League victory in quick succession.
"The weather conditions were miserable but I'm happy to have beaten Bershawn because I know he will be there in the World Championship final," Greene said.
"I'm very pleased with how I kept my form, it's the first time I've been in that situation, being chased to the line."