TOP, ( L - R ): Powell, Stewart BELOW ( L - R ): Foster-Hylton, McFarlane, Walker and in action during the Herculis athletics meeting at the Monaco stadium, Monaco, yesterday. - AP photos

MONACO (CMC):

Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell sent another stern warning ahead of next month's Beijing Olympics with a comfortable win, while compatriots Kerron Stewart, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Danny McFarlane and Melaine Walker joined him in the winners' row at the Herculis Monaco Grand Prix yesterday.

The 25-year-old, who also won at the Aviva London Grand Prix last Friday, eased to victory in 9.82 seconds ahead of Davis Patton of the United States (9.98) and Nesta Carter of Jamaica (10.02).

"I've been working on my finish, running through the line," Powell said afterward. "Of course, there is a lot of room for improvement.

"Going into Beijing, I feel very good, very fresh. I'm not surprised about my time. It was a nil wind reading so if I had had a +1, I would have been faster."

ONE OF Favourites

Powell is one of the hot favourites to win gold at the Beijing Olympics which gets under way from August 8-24.

The former world record holder is expected to face stiff com-petition from fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt and American Tyson Gay, neither of whom were in action yesterday.

Stewart won the women's equivalent, storming to victory in 10.94 seconds to claim a narrow win ahead of fellow Jamaican Sherone Simpson (10.95), with American Torri Edwards third in 11.02 seconds.

Foster-Hylton also tuned up nicely for next month's games when she clocked 12.49 seconds in capturing the 100 metres hurdles.

Australia's Sally McLellan was timed at 12.53 seconds in second while American Joanna Hayes finished third in 12.67 seconds.

McFarlane won the 400 metres hurdles in 48.39 seconds, while Walker won the corresponding women's event in 53.48 seconds.

Grenada's Randy Lewis won the triple jump event, measuring 17.42 metres to finish ahead of Portugal's Nelson Evora (17.24) and Slovakia's Dmitrij Valukevic (17.20).