MELBOURNE, Australia - World record holder Asafa Powell made a positive start to his Olympic season Thursday with an easy win in the 100 metres at the Melbourne Grand Prix.

Powell, overcoming a cut knee that curtailed his training over the past two weeks, finished in 10.04 seconds at Olympic Park, well outside his world mark of 9.74.

He was seven feet ahead of his Jamaican compatriot Michael Frater, who finished in 10.25. Former Australian record holder Matt Shirvington was third at 10.35.

Powell arrived in Australia last week with four stitches in a deep cut in his left knee suffered in an accident at home in Jamaica. He pulled out of a Sydney meet last weekend.

After undergoing a long warmup session Thursday, the 25-year-old Powell decided...