Australian Jana Rawlinson has continued her recent good 400 metre hurdles form by taking out that event at the Golden Grand Prix in Shanghai.

Rawlinson won in 54.42secs, comfortably ahead of Brit Natasha Danvers-Smith (54.85) and American Tiffany Ross-Williams (55.01).

In the men's 100 metres, Tyson Gay also said a post-world championships break meant he struggled to catch compatriot Wallace Spearmon, who ran 9.96.

"Today's race represents me trying to get the cobwebs out. Wallace Spearmon, he ran a great race," Gay said.

The 100 metres world-record holder Asafa Powell, who has avoided a showdown with rival Gay since finishing third behind the American at Osaka, steered clear of the world champion again, beating a weak field in the 200 metres.

Powell, whose 20.00 second run nudged his personal best, never looked in danger from second-placed American Rodney Martin and compatriot Christopher Williams in third.

World champion Jeremy Wariner of America won the 400 metres, finishing a second in front of compatriot Angelo Taylor Jr in second place.

For the women, 400 metres specialist Sanya Richards posted a 10.97 personal best in the 100, the American just pipped by Jamaica's Veronica Campbell on 10.90.

Britain's world champion Christine Ohuruogu cruised to victory with a 50.57 in the 400, while 100 metres hurdles world champion Michelle Perry had no trouble fending off Jamaica's Vonette Dixon on the way to a 12.65 mark.

Croatia's Blanka Vlasic and Yelena Isinbayeva from Russia continued their recent form, winning the high-jump and pole vault respectively.

Rain prevented the peerless Russian from setting a higher mark than 4.83 metres but the world champion was already safe ahead of compatriot Svetlana Feofanova who could manage only 4.75.

"I am feeling my style and technique are much better now," Isinbayeva, whose winning streak stretches back to August 2006, said after the competition.

In the distance events, Kenya's Daniel Komen held off a desperate challenge from Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele in the final straight of the 1,500, while world record-holder Meseret Defar won easily in the women's 5,000.

Cuba's Dayron Robles spoiled Liu Xiang's home-coming party, beating the rusty 110 metres hurdles world champion in his last domestic meeting before the Olympics.

Twenty-year-old Robles burned away from Liu, to post a competitive 13.03, leaving the Olympic champion to finish third behind Anwar Moore of the United States.

"The rhythm wasn't there and I was happy to finish in the top three. I didn't really expect to," said Liu, whose time of 13.21 in his first competition since the Osaka world championships was well outside his world mark of 12.88.

"Dayron is getting in better and better form. For me to lose a few races is not a big deal," the 24-year-old told reporters after the race.

"After the worlds, I didn't really feel like training. I was a bit tired."

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