MONTE CARLO, Monaco — Asafa Powell ran his fastest 100 meters of the season yesterday and Yelena Isinbayeva broke her own record in the women's pole vault to highlight the Herculis Super Grand Prix meet.

Powell had no help from the wind on a humid night, winning his event in 9.82 seconds — six-hundredths faster in Stockholm, Sweden, a week ago.

"I was very impressed with my race," the 25-year-old Jamaican said. "It was a nil wind reading so if I had a plus-one I would have run even faster."

The time was eight-hundredths of a second slower than his previous best of 9.74, which set a world record in Reiti, Italy, in September.

That record was surpassed by fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt, who ran 9.72 in New York two months ago.

Powell beat Bolt at Stockholm and appears to be reaching his peak form 17 days before the Olympics athletics program begins in Beijing.

Darvis Patton of the United States, who also will compete in the Olympic 100 meters, was second in 9.98. Nesta Carter of Jamaica was third in 10.02.

"Of course, there is still a lot of room for improvement," Powell said. "I'm not as strong as I should be so I'm still working on my strength.

"Going into Beijing I feel very good, very fresh. I'm definitely in world-record shape."

Isinbayeva cleared 5.04 meters (16 feet, 6.42 inches), succeeding with her third and final attempt to break the mark she set in Rome earlier this month by one centimeter.

She failed at the record height at London last weekend, and again brushed the bar as she went over. This time it wobbled and stayed put.

"I'm in the form that I must keep until the games," the reigning Olympic champion said.

The 26-year-old Russian increased her total of world indoor and outdoor records to 23, winning a car for her performance.

"I hoped to break a world record here in my hometown and it's the first competition since I moved to Monaco," Isinbayeva said.

Besides Powell, Jamaicans also scored victories in the women's sprints at the last major European meet before the Aug. 8 to 24 Olympics.

Kerron Stewart won the women's 100 in 10.94, beating countrywoman Sherone Simpson in a photo finish. American Torri Edwards was third in 11.02.

"Overall it was a good race," Stewart said. "The Jamaican team speaks for itself. The plan in Beijing is to go 1-2-3."

Jamaica also prevailed in the women's 400 hurdles, where Melanie Walker ran the fastest time in the world this year, 53.48 seconds. Americans Tiffany Ross-Williams (53.44) and Sheena Tosta (53.58) were second and third.

GYMNASTICS

HAMM'S PUNISHMENT FIT

International gymnastics officials won't disrupt Morgan Hamm's trip to the Beijing Olympics.

The International Gymnastics Federation said it will not appeal Hamm's punishment by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee already had said the warning did not affect Hamm's spot on the team for the Beijing Games. The gymnast arrived yesterday in San Jose, Calif., to go through processing with the rest of the American men.

"It's been a long process and now I can concentrate on my gymnastics, compete with my team and hopefully bring back a medal for the USA," Hamm said. "It was a fair decision in my mind, and I feel like all the steps were followed. In the end, the right thing to do was to let me compete."

USADA announced July 3 that Hamm had been warned for a May 24 positive test for glucocorticosteroid, a cortisone-like anti-inflammatory. The drug is allowed if an athlete gets a therapeutic use exemption, but Hamm had failed to do that.

Hamm said he got the shot May 2 from his doctor after taping, ultrasound and other therapies failed to reduce the pain and swelling in his left ankle.