Wind helps Powell as he breezes to win in Oslo

ASAFA Powell continued his impressive early-season form by cruising to 100 metres victory in 9.72 seconds at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Oslo last night.

The 27-year-old was in a class of his own in the Norwegian capital, posting a fourth win in the last five years on the Bislett Stadium track on the third leg of the money-spinning world tour. However, a wind just a tenth of a second over the permitted level prevented the Jamaican from matching the personal best he achieved almost two years ago in Lausanne. Powell is positive there is even better to come as the summer progresses.

"I like the feeling to see 9.72 on the scoreboard," said Powell, whose quickest legal time this year of 9.83sec came last Thursday in Ostrava after the start had been delayed for 20 minutes because of torrential rain.

Powell, who convincingly defeated Trinidad's Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson and Churandy Martina of the Dutch Antilles, continued: "I did not feel the wind. I was thinking it would be legal."

David Rushida broke one of the meeting's oldest records, smashing the 800m mark of one minute 42.33 seconds set by Sebastian Coe in the world-famous stadium 31 years ago – and who was watching.

Mark Lewis-Francis lost a great opportunity to impress watching UK Athletics coach Charles van Commenee, who will announce the Aviva GB team for the European Team Championships next week.

The 2004 Olympic 4x100m relay gold medallist finished last in his heat in 10.24sec – well behind Powell who coasted to a clocking of 10.05sec.

David Greene produced a solid and best performance by a Briton at the meeting when finishing third in the 400m hurdles with a season's best of 49.05sec.

Last year's World Championships finalist was never in the hunt against world champion Kerron Clement and Olympic bronze medallist Bershawn Jackson, with the American duo clocking 48.12secs and 48.5secs respectively. The 24-year-old Welshman clearly laid down his claim that he can challenge for a podium place when the European Championships get underway at the end of July.

Christine Ohuruogu had to settle for fourth in her 400m outing which was won impressively by Amantle Montsho of Botswana in a season's best of 50.34sec. However, the Olympic champion, who ran 50.98sec, is adamant that before the Euros get underway in Barcelona she will hit top form after changes to her training programme.

Steve Lewis failed to make the opening pole vault height of 5.40m – but was in good company as Olympic champion Steve Hooker did likewise. France's Renaud Lavillenie won with a season's best 5.80m.