Jamaica's Asafa Powell breaks 100-metre record, clocks 9.77 seconds

ATHENS (AP) - Asafa Powell broke the world record in the 100 metres Tuesday, finishing in 9.77 seconds at the Tsiklitiria Super Grand Prix meeting. The Jamaican - shaving Tim Montgomery's mark of 9.78, which was set in Paris in 2002 - beat a world class field including British duo Jason Gardener and Mark Lewis-Francis.

The 22-year-old Powell had already set the world's fastest time this year, with 9.84 seconds at the Jamaica International Invitational on May 8. He also ran a 9.85 on June 9 in the Czech Republic.