LONDON — Even without his two biggest rivals in the race, Asafa Powell was pushed all the way to the tape today in the 100 meters at the London Grand Prix.

He won in 9.94 seconds at Crystal Palace to claim his second victory at the distance this week.

"The way I am running at the moment I feel I am in the best shape I have been in," said Powell, who also won in Stockholm on Tuesday in a race that included world record holder Usain Bolt, Powell's Jamaican teammate.

"There are a lot of people running fast at the moment and I don't see any one athlete as being my main competitor," Powell said.

He got off to good start Friday despite running into a headwind, but most of the field stayed with him until the midway point. However, instead of easing across the finish line, Powell had to keep pushing because the pack caught up to make it close at the finish.

"The race did not quite go as expected but felt easy," Powell said. "A bit more work to do and everything should be fine for Beijing."

Marc Burns of Trinidad and Tobago was second in 9.97, and Michael Frater of Britain was third in 10.00.

Powell, who has yet to win an Olympic gold medal, is expected to come up against world champion Tyson Gay and Bolt at the Beijing Games, which Open Aug. 8.

Bolt broke Powell's 100 record in May, running 9.72 in New York. He decided to skip the 100 in London and will run Sunday in the 200. He is undecided about running in both the 100 and 200 in Beijing.

Powell beat Bolt in the 100 in Stockholm, running 9.88 to win.

"The Jamaicans are running quite well," Powell said.

Gay pulled out of the 100 at the London meet because he is nursing a hamstring injury from the U.S. Olympic trials last month.

Yelena Isinbayeva struggled to get going in the women's pole vault, and then took three attempts at another world record.

The Russian, who won Friday with a jump of 16 feet, 2 inches, had three attempts at 16-6½, a half inch higher than her outdoor world record.

"I really felt I could jump a world record today," Isinbayeva said. "I was so close."

The third attempt nearly gave Isinbayeva her 23rd world record, but the bar fell after teetering on its perch for a moment.

"I've got one more competition then a rest for two weeks before Beijing," Isinbayeva said. "It's going to be a hard competition and it might be necessary to break a world record to win."

At her opening height, Isinbayeva needed all three attempts to clear 15-6½.

American Jenn Stuczynski, who finished second at 15-9¼, took two attempts at a world record after failing in her only attempt to clear 16-2. Anna Rogowska of Poland was third with a jump of 15-3.

"It started off pretty good but at the end I think I was trying too hard and I didn't go with what I had been working on in practice," said Stuczynski, who will represent the United States at the Olympics. "My preparations are going really well so I'm really disappointed in today's performance."

With the Beijing Games approaching, Jamaican sprinter Sherone Simpson showed she can keep pace by winning the women's 200 in 22.70.

"To get a win so close to the Olympics is very good psychologically," said Simpson, who was slowed by injuries for much of 2007.

Bianca Knight, a 19-year-old American, was second in 22.79, and Debbie Ferguson of the Bahamas was third in 22.84. World champion Allyson Felix of the United States was fourth in 23.00.

Felix will compete in the 200 at the Olympics after failing to qualify for the U.S. team in the 100. She declined to speak to reporters after the race, and skipped the women's 400 relay.

World champion Christine Ohuruogu ran her fastest 400 this season, winning in 50.81.

In the men's mile, Shedrack Korir led all the way around the final lap to win in 3 minutes, 54.68 seconds. The Kenyan held off Andrew Baddeley down the final stretch, with the Briton finishing in 3:54.76.

Bernard Lagat, the world champion in the 1,500 and 5,000 from the United States, was third in 3:55.20 for his first loss in 10 races this season.

"I'm going to make sure I don't lose again because if I lose the next one it means I lose gold," Lagat said. "I can't afford to lose the one that's coming up, the Olympics."

David Oliver of the United States won the 110 hurdles in 13.20. Teammate Anwar Moore was second in 13.52.

"Beijing is the race to be in," Oliver said. "I am feeling very confident. My chances are as good as anyone else."

Reese Hoffa won the shot put with a throw of 69-4, and American teammate Adam Nelson was second at 69-1½. Tomasz Majewski of Poland was third with a throw of 68-9¾.

"I've got two weeks training now and I am feeling in great shape," said Hoffa, who has thrown 72-6¼ this season. "The distances weren't there tonight but the win will give me a lot of confidence for Beijing."

Kelly Sotherton of Britain leads the women's four-event challenge with 2,129 points. She won the long jump with a leap of 22-3½, and finished fourth in the 100 hurdles in 13.66.

Gi-Gi Johnson of the United States, who won the hurdles in 13.09, is second with 2,060 points, and Funmi Jimoh of the United States is third with 1,975.

The hurdles portion of the competition had to be rerun because the distance between the barriers was incorrect.

"It was a genuine mistake that the hurdles were misplaced," meet organizer John Ridgeon said. "We confirmed with the athletes that they were happy to rerun the race and they were."