Usain Bolt (R) of Jamaica competes during the men's 100m race at the Reebok Grand Prix athletics meet in New York, the United States, on May 31, 2008. Bolt set a new world record with a time of 9.72 seconds. (Xinhua/Hou Jun)Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Usain Bolt of Jamaica set a world record in the men's 100m, clocking 9.72 seconds at the Reebok Grand Prix meeting at Icahn Stadium in New York on Saturday.

    Bolt bettered the mark of 9.74 set by countryman Asafa Powell last September.

    The 21-year-old, the 200m silver medalist at the world championships, dashed out perfectly at the start after a false start and touched the finishing tape ahead of 100m world champion Tyson Gay.

    Gay finished second in 9.85, with his fellow American Darvis Patton a distant third in 10.07.

    "It was a great start," Bolt said, "I've been working hard at that. I gave you what you wanted."

    Earlier this month, Bolt stunned the athletics world by running a 9.76 in Jamaica, the second fastest time ever registered and only his third competitive race over the distance.