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.

And in calm conditions in Greece, Powell's promise paid off as he streaked home ahead of Ghana's Abdul Zakari and compatriot Michael Frater in record time.

American Jim Hines became the first man to dip below the 10-second mark in 1968. Since then the world mark has been lowered nine times twice by nine-time Olympic gold medallist American Carl Lewis.

Maurice Greene, who held the record before Montgomery, also captured the record at Athens' Olympic Stadium in 1999.

"I am just happy to have set the record on a track where Maurice Greene also broke the world record," beamed Powell.