Jamaica's Asafa Powell equalled the men's 100 metres world record with a time of 9.77 seconds at the British Grand Prix meeting in Gateshead on Sunday.
Briton Dwain Chambers showed he is back to form after a two-year drugs ban, finishing third in an impressive time of 10.07, behind Jamaican Michael Frater.
Powell set the world best in Athens in June 2005 which was matched by American Olympic and world champion Justin Gatlin in Doha on May 12 this year.
"I came out here to show them I'm back to where I started last year and I'm going to pick up this season from now on," Powell told BBC television.
Powell and co-record holder Gatlin are due to race against each other in London on July 28.
The pair's last clash on the track was in London in July last year when Powell pulled up with a groin problem that ended his season.
