Powell is world’s fastest man

JAMAICAN Asafa Powell set a new men’s 100m record of 9.77 seconds at the Athens Olympic Stadium last night The 22-year-old bettered American Tim Montgomery’s previous mark of 9.78, which he set in Paris three years ago.

The world record will be consolation for Powell, who had gone to the Athens Olympics as favourite only to trail home fifth behind winner Justin Gatlin. Powell, who predicted he would break the mark in 2005, said: "It shows no-one knows how fast a man can run."

The 22-year-old had spoken confidently about surpassing Montgomery's mark after he clocked 9.84 the joint-third fastest time in history in Kingston last month.