Powell destroys 100m record
Asafa Powell: 100m world record holder
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Sunday, 09, Sep 2007 08:21
Jamaica's Asafa Powell has sensationally broken his own 100m record after setting a time of 9.74 seconds at the Rieti grand prix in Italy.
The 24-year-old shaved thee hundredths of a second off the previous record of 9.77 seconds he shared with American Justin Gatlin during the second of two heats to qualify for tonight's final.
His run was undoubtedly boosted by a strong tailwind but the record is made the more remarkable by the athlete appearing to ease up before the finishing line.
"That's what happens when I start to listen to the coach," Powell said after seeing his world record time.
Powell had previously run 9.77 seconds on three occasions, first in June two years ago in Athens and then in Gateshead and Zurich 2006.
Last month, the Commonwealth champion finished third behind the USA's Tyson Gay and Derrick Atkins of the Bahamas in the World Championships in Osaka.