PARIS, July 8: Joint world record holder Asafa Powell has his sights set on claiming the 100 metres mark outright at Saturday's Golden League meeting in Paris.

The Jamaican Commonweath champion shares the record of 9.77 seconds with American world and Olympic champion Justin Gatlin, who will not be competing in the Stade de France.

“My goal is simple — run fast, from the start to the finish line,” Powell told a news conference.

“I'm in a good shape. I know anything can happen, anything is possible at this meeting.”

Powell originally set the record in Athens in June 2005 and clocked 9.77 again in Gateshead, England last month. The time was matched by Gatlin in Doha on May 12 this year.

The two sprinters have not competed on the track together since July last year when Powell pulled up with a groin strain in London.

“I cannot tell you when and where I'm going to meet Justin Gatlin on the track,” Powell said. “It seems he's avoiding me.

“About the question, if I'm going to get the world record just for myself? It's certain. I'll do it,” the 23-year-old added.

Among Powell's rivals in Paris are compatriot and world silver medallist Michael Frater and 200 Olympic champion Shawn Crawford of the United States.

In the women's 100 metres, former triple Olympic champion Marion Jones returns to competition for the first time since regaining the U.S. 100 metres title in Indianopolis two weeks ago.

World and Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva makes her outdoor debut for 2006.

Ethiopia's women's 5,000 metres world record holder Meseret Defar opens her Golden League campaign after missing last month's meeting in Oslo.—Reuters