WFH

[9/9/07] Jamaican Asafa Powell set a new men's world 100m record of 9.74 seconds at the IAAF Grand Prix at Rieti, Italy, on Sunday, beating his old mark of 9.77 set in Athens in June 2005.

Powell's new world record shaves three-hundredths of a second off his previous mark set in June 2005.

The 24-year-old Powell dominated the race ahead of Norway's Saidy Ndure Jaysuma (10.07) and 2003 world champion from St Kitts and Nevis, Kim Collins (10.14).

The Jamaican failed to win the 100m title at the Osaka world championships, finishing third in 9.96 seconds behind Americain Tyson Gay (9.85) and Derrick Atkins of the Bahamas (9.91).

"I was much more fluid," said Powell, who had run 9.77 three times. "Zero tension, zero pressure."

Powell set his latest record in the second of two heats, and even eased up at the end to save something for the final, which he won in 9.78.

"This means that I can do even 9.68," the Jamaican said. "I'm worth that time, I know it."

[5/16/06] Justin Gatlin's 100 metres world record has been erased after five days -- not by another sprinter, but because an official couldn't tell time.

Tissot Timing informed the International Association of Athletics Federations yesterday that there was an error in interpreting the American's winning time in the Super Grand Prix meet in Doha last Friday. Gatlin ran the 100 in 9.766 seconds. His time was announced as 9.76, eclipsing the world record of 9.77, set by Asafa Powell of Jamaica in Greece in June of 2005.

Under IAAF rules, Gatlin's result should have been rounded up to 9.77, the IAAF said yesterday as it wiped out Gatlin's mark. Gatlin and Powell are now officially deadlocked, a circumstance that adds fuel to their feud over the title of the world's fastest man.

[5/12/06] DOHA, Qatar -- Olympic champion. World champion. Now, Justin Gatlin is the world record holder, too. The American sprinter broke the 100-meter record Friday with a time of 9.76 seconds at the Qatar Grand Prix. He shaved one-hundredth of a second off the mark of 9.77 seconds set by Jamaica's Asafa Powell on June 14, 2005, in Athens, Greece.

[6/14/05] Asafe Powell runs 9.77.