ROME (AFP) - Jamaica's Asafa Powell failed in his bid to set a new 100m world mark at the IAAF Grand Prix meeting at Rieti on Sunday as he clocked 9.82sec in the final, having timed 9.77sec in his heat.

The 25-year-old Powell had been targeting the 9.69sec record, held by compatriot and triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt, in the final, having set the old world record of 9.74sec on the same track last year.

Following a false start Powell made a poor start and although he recovered well he had left himself too much to do, while still winning the event.

Compatriot Michael Frater finished second in 9.98sec.

Since his disappointment at the Beijing Olympics, when he came in fifth as Bolt stormed to glory, Powell had put together an impressive series of races in the past week.

He managed 9.87sec in rainy conditions at Gateshead, England, a week ago, then 9.72sec at Lausanne, Switzerland on Tuesday, the second fastest of all time, before a 9.83sec performance in Brussels on Friday.