American track queen Marion Jones said yesterday that she can beat the women's 100 metres world record of 10.49 seconds set nearly 10 years ago by compatriot Florence Griffith-Joyner.

"I think I can break the world record. I am not saying next year or in three years . . . but I can do it.

"I am faster than last year . . . I definitely think I can run much faster than 10.76 and 21.76," the 22 year old sprinter said, referring to her personal bests over 100 and 200 metres. Her 100 metres best is the third fastest ever - the world second best is 10.74 seconds by Jamaican evergreen Merlene Ottey.

Griffith-Joyner's 200 metres world record, set at the Seoul Olympics in 1988, is 21.34 seconds. "I will still concentrate on my 100, but I am definitely going to include 200 metres a couple more times this year," Jones said. The North Carolina-based ex-basketball star, who also does the long jump, said she would stick with athletics until her dreams had come true; "until I have achieved everything I have to achieve, world records, Olympic medals . . ."