Josephine Onyia also saw her chances at the lucrative prize fade when the Spaniard finished sixth in the 100 hurdles, which was won by Brigitte Foster-Hylton in 12.60.

Competitors that win their event in all six Golden League meets will share the jackpot. Rome is the third meet in the series after Berlin and Oslo, followed by Paris (July 18), Zurich (Aug. 29) and Brussels (Sept. 5).

Yelena Isinbaeva of Russia reacts after setting a new world record in the women's pole vault during the Golden Gala IAAF Golden League at the Olympic stadium in Rome July 11, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Isinbayeva was competing in her first outdoor meet this season, and the record stands as a sharp response before the Beijing Olympics to American pole vaulter Jenn Stuczynski, who cleared 4.90 on May 18 and then 4.92 at the US trials earlier this month to move into second on the all-time list.

"Everybody was saying 'Ah OK, Isinbayeva is finished, we have a new star,"' Isinbayeva said. "So today I was really angry."

Isinbayeva has now set 12 world records outdoors and 10 indoors, and is the only woman to clear 5 meters. Her career goal is to eclipse Sergei Bubka's mark of 35 world records.

In the main 400, Wariner held a slight lead rounding the last turn, and went ahead by a stride midway down the final straight, but Merritt made a late charge to force the photo finish, while Chris Brown of the Bahamas took third in 44.73.

Yelena Isinbaeva of Russia reacts after setting a new world record in the women's pole vault during the Golden Gala IAAF Golden League at the Olympic stadium in Rome July 11, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

After losing two straight, Wariner improved his career record over Merritt to 12-3, dating back to the spring of 2005.

Merritt said he thought the race was "set up," apparently by lane assignments _ Wariner had lane 4 and Merritt lane 5.

Obikwelu, a Portuguese sprinter who finished second to Justin Gatlin at the 2004 Athens Games, finished in 10.04 seconds, while Derrick Atkins of the Bahamas was second in the same time.

Powell burst out of the blocks well in the heats and took the midway lead, but then pulled up and crossed fifth in 10.19 seconds. He took the final qualifying spot for the nine-man final, but decided against running again.

"He's OK, but he felt his groin cramp up and stopped running as a precaution," said Powell's manager, Paul Doyle. "He's not going to take any chances. It's an Olympic year."

Doyle said this was a new injury, though Powell "has had problems with his groin in the past."

Powell's fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt set a world record of 9.72 seconds in New York on May 31, improving on the 9.74 Powell ran in Rieti, Italy, in September.

Obikwelu was also hurting, due to a left Achilles tendon problem.

Allyson Felix made her case to be a member of the United States' 1,600 relay team at the Beijing Games by winning the 400 by a large margin. Felix crossed in 50.25, with Novlene Williams of Jamaica second in 50.79.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily July 12, 2008)