100 meters world record holder Asafa Powell and China's 110m hurdles world record holder Liu Xiang made the most impressive marks on the opening day of the IAAF World Grand Prix finals in Stuttgart, Germany on Saturday.

Powell ran yet another sub 10 second race though he didn't threaten his record of 9.77 seconds and Liu made a stunning return to the international circuit after taking time off since breaking the world mark in July in Lausanne.

Liu timed 12.93 seconds in the event and admitted to not feeling too surprised at his excellent run.

"I felt really well before the race and I knew I was in really good shape," said the 23-year-old Olympic champion.

"After my world record (12.88 seconds breaking Colin Jackson's 13 year old mark of 12.91) I returned to Beijing and got a lot of rest," added Liu.

However, he promised more of the same at the World Cup in Athens at the weekend.

"The World Cup has been my end of season objective and that is why I didn't give it my all," said Liu.

Unlike Liu, Powell was undecided about the World Cup.

"I feel a little tired, the season has been long but a rich one," said Powell, who started back in March at the Commonwealth Games, where he won the 100m title.

"I will see whether I run in Athens."

Powell admitted that he had not threatened his world record because he was nervous of false starting.

"There had already been one so I didn't want to be disqualified for doing the second one. I am not disappointed in my time at all."

Elsewhere, America's Olympic and world 400m champion Jeremy Wariner continued his dominance of the event as he won with something in hand.

"It has been a long season but my best run since London," said Wariner, who with Clyde Hart coaches world record holder Michael Johnson.

"It is a great way to finish the season but I had to dig down deep."

His performance spurred on Democratic Republic of Congo runner Gary Kikaya, who broke Nigerian Innocent Egbunike's 19-year-old African record in the 400 meters.

(China Daily September 11, 2006)