Asafa Powell of Jamaica (left) on his way to setting the new world record in the 100 metres dash, running 9.74 seconds at the Rieti Grand Prix, Italy, yesterday. At right is Jaysuma Saidy Ndure of Norway who placed second in 10.07. - AP

RIETI, Italy (AP):

Asafa Powell set another world record in the 100 metres, and suspects he can go even faster.

The world's fastest man improved his record yesterday, winning a heat at the Rieti Grand Prix in 9.74 seconds despite easing at the end.

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

The record comes only two weeks after the Jamaican finished a disappointing third at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan.

"I made a couple of mistakes and I corrected them," said Powell, who lowered the mark by 0.03 seconds, having run 9.77 three times. "That's what happens when I start to listen to the coach."

The heat, the second of two, was run with a strong tail wind, but it was below the maximum allowed by the IAAF, making the record valid.

In the final, Powell won in 9.78 - with no tail wind.

Michael Frater of Jamaica was second in 10.03, followed by Jaysuma Saidy Ndure of Norway in 10.10.

"Today I ran like I should have done at the Worlds," Powell said. "At Osaka I was too tense, I was thinking about the race and the time I had to set. Instead, here I was relaxed."

In the heat, Ndure was second to Powell in 10.07 and Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis was third in 10.14.

Lap of honour

After winning the final, Powell celebrated amid a crowd of photographers on the field of Raul Guidobaldi stadium, throwing a bouquet of flowers into the stands. He also ran a lap of honour, shaking hands with fans and signing autographs.

"Me and my coach have been working to getting myself back to normal," Powell said. "I came here today and I executed properly and did what I was supposed to do."

Powell is only the fourth non-American to hold the 100 world record since 1912.

Donovan Bailey of Canada (1996), Armin Hary of West Germany (1960) and Percy Williams of Canada (1930) are the others.

Rieti is a fast track on which six middle-distance world records have been set. That was not lost on Powell, who was trying to bounce back from his disappointing performance at the Worlds.

"It's a very fast track. I love this track. It's very bouncy," said Powell, who trains in Italy three months of the year. "Italy is a good place for me. It's my second home."

Powell first set the world record of 9.77 in June 2005 in Athens, Greece. Justin Gatlin matched the time in May 2006, but the American faces a suspension of up to eight years following a positive doping test for testosterone and other steroids at the Kansas Relays a month earlier. In June 2006, Powell again ran 9.77, and then did it a third time in August 2006.

But despite the fast times, Powell has struggled at major competitions, missing a medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. At the Worlds, he finished behind gold medallist Tyson Gay and Derrick Atkins, running 9.96. Thebronze was Powell's first major medal.

"That was a race I had to win and I didn't. Enough. I lost," Powell said. "The real Powell is the one from today, not the Osaka one."

Powell had also been one of the favourites at the 2003 Worlds, but he was disqualified in the heats for a false start. He missed the 2005 Worlds because of a groin injury.

Michael Johnson, the world record holder at both 200 and 400 metres, criticized Powell during the Worlds last month, saying the Jamaican is "not a great competitor". Johnson said Powell gave up in Osaka when he was overtaken by Gay in the final 40 metres.

"He's not a great competitor, you can see it in his eyes," Johnson wrote in his column for the BBC. "He can learn to be a great competitor, but first you have to admit that you're not."

Powell should get another chance to race Gay next Sunday. Both are scheduled to compete at the Golden League's Memorial Van Damme meet in Brussels, Belgium.

Sally McLellan of Australia won the women's 100 in 11.30, with Stephanie Durst of the United States second in 11.37 and Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie of the Bahamas third in 11.38.

Several world champions also won, including Lauryn Williams of the United States in the women's 200, Janeth Jepkosgei of Kenya in the women's 800, Yargelis Savigne of Cuba in the women's triple jump and Irving Saladino of Panama in the men's long jump.

100 Metres World record progression

(AP): 10.6,	Donald Lippincott,	U.S.,	July 6, 1912
10.4,	Charles Paddock,	U.S.,	April 23, 1921
10.3,	Percy Williams,	Ca.,	Aug. 9, 1930
10.2,	Jesse Owens,	U.S.,	June 20, 1936
10.1,	Willie Williams,	U.S.,	Aug. 3, 1956
10.0,	Armin Hary,	Ger.,	June 21, 1960
9.99,	Jim Hines,	U.S.,	June 20, 1968
9.95	(electronic),	Hines,	Oct. 14, 1968
9.93,	Calvin Smith,	U.S.,	July 3, 1983
9.92,	Carl Lewis,	U.S.,	Sept. 24, 1988
9.90,	Leroy Burrell,	U.S.,	June 14, 1991
9.86,	Carl Lewis,	U.S.,	Aug. 25, 1991
9.85,	Leroy Burrell,	U.S.,	July 6, 1994
9.84,	Donovan Bailey,	Can.,	July 27, 1996
9.79,	Maurice Greene,	U.S.,	June 16, 1999
9.77,	Asafa Powell,	Jamaica.,	June 14, 2005
9.77,	Justin Gatlin,	U.S.,	May 12, 2006
9.77,	Asafa Powell,	Jamaica.,	June 11, 2006
9.77,	Asafa Powell,	Jamaica.,	Aug. 18, 2006
9.74,	Asafa Powell,	Jamaica.,	Sept. 9, 2007

Powell's World Record Moment

Jamaica's Asafa Powell on his way to set the new world record in the 100 metres dash, running 9.74 seconds, at the Rieti Grand Prix in Italy yesterday.

Powel acknowledges cheers from fans. - AP

Asafa Powell of Jamaica acknowledges cheers from fans after winning the final of the 100 metres dash, running 9.78 seconds at the Rieti Grand Prix, Italy, yesterday. Previously, Powell bettered his world record running 9.74 seconds in the second of two heats to reach the 100m final. - AP

Asafa finishing at world record pace. - REUTERS

Powell signs autographs after winning the final of the 100 metres dash yesterday.

The fastest man celebrates after his world record win.