New 100m Sprint Record

Rounding numbers can be a bitch:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/4989558.stm

Quote:

Justin Gatlin has been sensationally denied the world 100 metres record he had claimed last Friday in Qatar.

Governing body the International Association of Athletics Federations has revealed that Gatlin ran 9.766 seconds, not 9.7 secs as first thought.

According to IAAF rules, that time should have been manually rounded up to 9.77 secs - matching but not beating Asafa Powell's existing world record.

Gatlin had said on Friday: "I feel like I'm the best of the best."

The dramatic news will come as a huge shock to world and Olympic champion Gatlin, who thought he had proved himself the greatest sprinter in the world with his 'record' in Doha.

But it adds even more intrigue to the rapidly-developing rivalry between Gatlin and Powell.

Gatlin will also be confident of lowering the new mark - particularly as he has been aiming to peak later in the season.

He said on Friday: "I had a horrible start and I know I can do better.

"The timing could be further improved this year, probably in Europe."

The IAAF said it acted after being informed of the error by Tissot Timing.

Jamaican Powell set his record in Athens last year, beating the 9.78 secs run by discredited American sprinter Tim Montgomery.

Gatlin and Powell will renew their rivalry when they go head-to-head for the first time this season at the Gateshead Grand Prix on 11 June.

The pair last met on the track at the London Grand Prix last July but Gatlin cruised to victory as Powell pulled up with a groin injury which also kept him out of the world championships.

Jam it back in, in the dark.