Powell lowers world 100 metres record

RIETI, Italy, Sept 9 (Reuters) Asafa Powell bounced back from his disappointing third place at the world championships today when he broke his 100 metres world record with a time of 9.74 seconds.

The Jamaican set the record in his heat at the Rieti IAAF Grand Prix and will have the chance to better the time in the final later today.

Powell, the Commonwealth champion, had previously shared the record of 9.77 with American Olympic champion Justin Gatlin.

At the Osaka world championships last month, Powell finished third behind American Tyson Gay and Derrick Atkins of the Bahamas.

Powell had run 9.77 seconds on three occasions.

REUTERS PDT KN2217