Asafa Powell of Jamaica set a new world record in the 100 meters, clocking 9.77 seconds at the Tsiklitiria Super Grand Prix tonight in Athens, Greece.

The 22-year-old eclipsed the previous record of 9.78 seconds, set by American Tim Montgomery in 2002.

After overwhelming a solid field that included Olympic silver medallist Francis Obikwelu of Portugal, Powell was first credited with a performance equal to Montgomery's, before the time was adjusted.

After his impressive 9.85 performance last Thursday at the Golden Spike Super Grand Prix in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Powell said an assault on Montgomery's record in the 100 meters could be coming very soon.

"I'm strong enough, and I'm confident about it," the soft-spoken Jamaican said in Ostrava. "Yeah, it's coming."

Setting the stage for his return to the same Olympic Stadium track where he finished a disappointing fifth last year and despite unseasonably cool and rainy conditions, Powell powered to the then-second fastest time of the year in the eastern Czech city, second only to his own 9.84 performance at the Jamaican International in Kingston last month. At the time, only Montgomery and former world record holder Maurice Greene had ever run faster, and never under such adverse sprinting conditions.

"I'm surprised that the time was so fast because the weather was so bad," Powell said, adding that rain was welling in his eyes. "I never knew it was going to be that fast." In better conditions, Powell said, "Maybe, I could have broken the world record."

Powell said he wasn't concerned after his only loss of the season, a narrow defeat to Olympic champion Justin Gatlin at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon on June 4 in which each was credited with a wind-aided 9.84 performance. It was only the second loss for Powell since the end of the 2003 season; the other also came at the hands of Gatlin, who won the Olympic title in 9.85 while Powell finished fifth in 9.94.

The Eugene race, Powell said, was a cautious one after he suffered a minor groin strain during a 200 meter race in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

"I was 100 percent but I wasn't going 100 percent; just feeling out the groin and feeling my strength." In Ostrava, Powell confirmed that the minor ache is a distraction of the past. "No problem at all tonight. I didn't feel it at all."

While many sprinters gain a reputation as boastful and even arrogant, Powell maintains a modest, laid back demeanor.

"I've always been taught to stay humble, and stay calm and relaxed," he said. "I'm not the type to get caught up in the hype. I don't want to ever change that."

Despite his event's status as a Golden League event this year, in which a million dollar jackpot is on offer to athletes winning each of six races at the major athletics meetings, Powell's appearance at the first competition, the Gaz de France in Paris on July 1, has yet to be confirmed.

"We're still negotiating," Powell's manager, Paul Doyle said in Ostrava, adding that an "acceptable" offer has yet to be made. Coach Stephen Francis said that Powell will race at the Golden Gala meeting in Rome on July 1.