Jamaican Asafa Powell set a new men's 100m record of 9.77 seconds at the Athens Olympic Stadium on Tuesday. The 22-year-old bettered American Tim Montgomery's previous mark of 9.78, which he set at the Paris Grand Prix in September 2002, by 100th of a second. 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 spoke 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. Britain's Jason Gardener finished a disappointing ninth in 10.29 while Mark Lewis-Francis did not qualify for the final. 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. Powell has made great strides in only his third full season on the circuit but has fallen short of fulfilling his potential. The Jamaican was disqualified at the quarter-final stage of the World 100m in 2003 for false starting, having set the fastest time in the first round of heats. He then tied up in the Olympic final in Athens last August - but has made amends by blazing a trail in 2005. As well as currently being ranked as the IAAF's number one male athlete in the world, he owns the top three fastest times over 100m this season. Powell will now go to August's World Championships in Helsinki as overwhelming favourite. Reprinted from bbccaribbean.com