RECORD RUN

ATHENS, Greece (AFP) – Jamaica’s Asafa Powell broke the 100 metres world record on Wednesday running 9.77 seconds.

The 22 year-old’s mark eclipses the old time of 9.78 seconds set by Tim Montgomery in Paris in September 2002.{{more}}

Powell, who failed to live up to his reputation in the Olympics last year, finishing fifth in the final, blew away from the blocks and was never threatened, as he finished metres ahead of his closest rival.

Ironically, the same meeting produced a world record in the same event in June 16, 1999, when Maurice Greene set the mark with a time of 9.79.

Powell – who broke the record in front of a sparse crowd at the cavernous Olympic stadium – had set his sights on the world mark after a world season best of 9.84 seconds last month.

“I am very happy that in my second appearance here in Greece I achieved this performance. It is amazing that after Greene, I also achieved a world record in this stadium,” he said.

He said he knew he could break the record.

“I always wondered what it would be like to break a world record. I achieved my goal.”

Second in the race was Ghana’s Aziz Zakari in 9.99 with Jamaica’s Michael Frater placing third with a 10.03 clocking, both personal bests.