Jamaica's Usain Bolt does his trademark celebration after setting a new 100m world record yesterday.

BERLIN, Germany:

A race billed as a showdown featuring the world's three fastest men ended in a complete rout inside the Berlin Olympic Stadium last night.

Jamaica's Usain Bolt blasted the men's 100 metres world record into the stratosphere with an amazing run of 9.58 seconds at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics. The new record was eleven-hundredths of a second below the world mark he set at the Beijing Olympics last year.

In an amazing run, the 22-year-old Bolt left American Tyson Gay toiling in his wake. As Bolt hit the finish line, his eyes glanced over to the clock and he began beating his chest. The message: I have done it again.

In Beijing, he began his celebrations before the line. This time, he reserved it till after. Bolt's victory earned him US$160,000 - US$100,000 (J$8.9 million) for breaking the record and US$60,000 (J$5.34 million) for winning the race.

Greatest-ever 100m

Gay, the 2007 world champion, though well behind, had the satisfaction of setting an American national record of 9.71, while Jamaica's Asafa Powell, a former world-record holder, took bronze in a season-best 9.84.

The race was perhaps the greatest-ever 100m. Antigua and Barbuda's Daniel Bailey, Bolt's training partner, was fourth in 9.93, Trinidad and Tobago's Richard Thompson fifth in 9.93, Briton Dwain Chambers sixth in 10.00 and another Trinidadian, Marc Burns, seventh, also in 10.00.

"I was definitely ready for the world record and I did it," Bolt said after his victory lap and a big hug from his mother, Jennifer Bolt.

However, the great sprinter was himself surprised by the clocking.

"I did not expect this time. I was focused and came out to execute but I did not think I could run (more than) a 10th of a second below my own world record."

He added: "This is a big moment in history, but you never know what happens tomorrow. For me, it is a great run. This is big for Jamaica."

Praise for bolt

Runner-up Gay and Powell were also full of praise for Bolt.

"I am disappointed to have lost the race but I have run my fastest time, I cannot complain. Bolt ran a great race. I did my best, but it was not good enough."

"I am stunned," bronze medallist Asafa Powell, who has a personal best of 9.72, said. "I feel like a winner today. I knew it was going to be fast but I did not expect a time like this."

Bolt was in front after 20 metres when the starter set them off and he widened his lead as Gay and Powell tried desperately to remain close. Gay was a clear second as Bolt hit the line and a flat-out Powell just held on for third ahead of Bailey.

Bolt, who had promised a new dance at the unveiling of his new Puma running shoe, the Yaam, last Thursday, did the Jamaican Luggo Luggo to entertain the crowd during his victory lap as thousands of Germans cheered him on.