Despite the absence of Dayron Robles, the Cuban whose world record stands at 12.87, Oliver managed to keep himself pushing to the line to record 12.89, finishing well clear of the field  at the Stade de France.,

"It's getting closer and closer," said Oliver, who now has the United States record all to himself.

"The last few races have been unbelievable but I know there is more to come,” said Oliver, who had equalled Dominique Arnold’s four-year-old US record at the Eugene Diamond League meeting.

"It feels so cool and I love winning.

"It was a shame Dayron wasn't here because he's injured.

"He's a great champion and when we race together we are going to put that world record under real pressure."

Bolt, despite a hesitant start, came through to win his race without any obvious problems from the Achilles tendon injury which kept him out of competition for several weeks earlier this season.

Powell, beaten by the former world champion Tyson Gay in Gateshead last Saturday (July 10), was second with 9.91.

In third place, Bolt’s training partner Blake ran a personal best of 9.95 while the 20-year-old French hope Christophe Lemaitre, who ran a national record and European-leading time of 9.98 at his national championships last weekend, looked slightly tired after a week in which he has been the focus of much media attention and came home fifth in 10.09.

Sudan’s Abubaker Kaki could not quite fulfil his stated ambition of becoming just the fifth man to run under 1min 42sec , but the 2008 and 2010 World indoor champion was still far, far, too good for the rest of the field and was a magisterial winner in 1:43.50, beating South Africa’s world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi into second place.

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