Doha: Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell blamed jet lag for his loss to resurgent American star Justin Gatlin after he conceded an early-race lead to finish second in the 100 metres at the season-opening Diamond League that started here Friday.

The 29-year-old Powell, who has never won a major title, had a fantastic start and seemed to have the race won after 75 metres at the Qatar Sports Club. However, Gatlin produced a late burst to nip Powell on the line and take victory in a time of 9.87 seconds

"The jet lag is in my legs. I tried to go, but my legs just wouldn't go there," said Powell, who timed 9.88 seconds. "I'm still happy with the time. It was an ok race, considering that I've only been here two days, travelling from Jamaica."

The race was Powell's first in what is expected to be a crucial season, with the London Olympics in July. For all his success, he is still without an individual Olympic medal.

On Friday, fellow Jamaican Lerone Clarke clocked a personal best 9.99 seconds to be third while another Jamaican Nesta Carter trailed in fifth in 10.05.

Meanwhile, Olympic and former World champion Melaine Walker stormed to a world-leading time in the women's 400 metres hurdles. The 29-year-old, who could only manage silver at the Daegu World Championship last year, clocked 54.62 seconds to finish ahead of fellow Jamaican Kaliese Spencer in 54.99.

Another Jamaican former World champion, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, won the 100 metres hurdles in 12.60 seconds. The win was her second straight following her triumph at the JN Invitational in Kingston last week.

There was no such luck for Olympic and World 200 metres champion Veronica Campbell-Brown who was nipped by American Allyson Felix in the 100 metres. Felix got home in 10.92 seconds with Brown behind in 10.94. Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce finished third in 11 seconds flat.

Results:
Men
100m (wind: +0.4 m/s):
1. Justin Gatlin, United States, 9.87
2. Asafa Powell, Jamaica, 9.88
3. Lerone Clarke, Jamaica, 9.99

200m (wind: -0.5 m/s):
1. Walter Dix, United States, 20.02
2. Churandy Martina, Netherlands, 20.26
3. Jaysuma Saidy Ndure, Norway, 20.34

400m:
1. LaShawn Merritt, United States, 44.19
2. Luguelmn Santos, Dominican Republic, 44.88
3. Angelo Taylor, United States, 44.97

800m
1. David Rudisha, Kenya, 1:43.10
2. Job Kinyor, Kenya, 1:43.76
3. Andrew Osagie, Britain, 1:44.64

500m:
1. Silas Kiplagat, Kenya, 3:29.63
2. Asbel Kiprop, Kenya, 3:29.78
3. Bethwell Birgen, Kenya, 3:31.17

3,000m:
1. Augustine Kiprono Choge, Kenya, 7:30.42
2. Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya, 7:31.40
3. Moses Ndiema Kipsiro, Uganda, 7:31.88

3,000m steeple:
1. Paul Kipsiele Koech, Kenya, 7:56.58
2. Richard Matelong, Kenya, 7:56.81
3. Gary Roba, Ethiopia, 8:06.16

High jump:
1. Dimmtrios Chondrokozkis, Greece, 2.32 m
2. Jesse Williams, United States, 2.30
3. Mickael Hanany, France, 2.30

Long jump:
1. Aleksandr Menkov, Russia, 8.22 m
2. Godfrey Khotso Mokoena, South Africa, 8.10
3. Ndiss Kaba Badji, Senegal, 8.04

Discus:
1. Piotr Malachowski, Poland, 67.53 m
2. Ehsan Hadadi, Iran, 66.32
3. Zoltan Kovago, Hungary, 65.77

Women
100m (wind: +0.7 m/s):
1. Allyson Felix, United States, 10.92
2. Veronica Campbell-Brown, Jamaica,10.94
3. Shelly-Ann Fraser, Jamaica, 11.00

800m
1. Pamela Jelimo, Kenya, 1:56.94
2. Fantu Magiso, Ethiopia, 1:57.90
3. Janeth Jepkosgei, Kenya, 1:58.50

3,000m:
1. Vivian Cheruiyot, Kenya, 8:46.44
2. Meseret Defar, Ethiopia, 8:46.49
3. Sylvia Jebiwott Kibet, Kenya, 8:47.49

100m hurdles (wind: +0.1 m/s):
1. Brigitte Foster, Jamaica, 12.60
2. Kellie Wells, United States, 12.72
3. Phylicia George, Canada, 12.79

400m hurdles:
1. Melanie Walker, Jamaica, 54.62
2. Kaliese Spencer, Jamaica, 54.99
3. Perri Shakes-Drayton, Britain, 55.25

Triple jump:
1. Olga Rypakova, Kazakhstan, 14.33 m
2. Keila Costa, Brazil, 14.31
3. Francoise Mbango Etone, France, 14.09

Pole vault:
1. Anastasia Savchenko, Russia, 4.57 m
2. Silke Spiegelburg, Germany, 4.57
3. Nikolma Kiriakopozlou, Greece, 4.50

Shot Put:
1. Nadzeya Ostapchuk, Belarus, 20.53 m
2. Jillian Camarena-Williams, United States, 19.81
3. Nadine Kleinert, Germany, 19.67

Javelin:
1. Maria Abakumova, Russia, 66.86 m
2. Barbora Spotakova, Czech Republic, 66.17
3. Christina Obergfoll, Germany, 64.59

(IANS)