Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts

Coleman breaks world record in 60M

Greene had held the record of 6.39sec for almost 20 years. He first did it in Madrid in 1998 and equalled in Atlanta three years later.

Christian Coleman

Bengaluru, February 19: American sprinter Christain Coleman broke compatriot Maurice Greene's long-standing 60M world record when he ran 6.34sec at the US Indoor National Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Greene had held the record of 6.39sec for almost 20 years. He first did it in Madrid in 1998 and equalled in Atlanta three years later.

The performance at high altitude in Albuquerque was particularly pleasing for Coleman after he had bettered Greene's world record time with a run of 6.37sec last month in South Carolina, but was not ratified for technical reasons.

In Clemson last month, Coleman's performance was not submitted for International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) world record ratification as electronic starting equipment was not used at the meeting.

"It feels like a blur. I wanted to go get it," Coleman said after the race.

"I put a lot of work in my start and transition. It's all paying off," added the 21-year-old, who won the 100M silver medal at last year's World Championships in London.

Coleman had won his heat in 6.46 and his semifinal in 6.42 after easing down on both occasions, hinting that he had more in store for the final.

After a false start from one of the other finalists, the race got away at the second time of asking and Coleman blasted out of the blocks with a 0.149 reaction time.

Pushed for most of the race by Ronnie Baker, Coleman edged ahead in the closing stages before spreading his arms wide when crossing the finish line, stopping the clock at 6.34. Baker finished second in 6.40.

"I was just trying to come out with the win," said Coleman, who will spearhead the American team for the IAAF World Indoor Championships to be held in Birmingham, England, from March 1 to 4.

"My start was decent. Every time, I feel like I've got a lot of work to do (coming out of the blocks). When I transitioned, I stood up, and I felt as good as I've ever felt. For it to be the world record was pretty special.

"I just love this sport," he added.

"It's so competitive, and either you've got it or you don't on this day. I just love racing in the big races, when everybody's watching. I just flourish in those moments. It's not really in my personality, but when the lights are on, it just comes out."

(With IAAF Media inputs).

Story first published: Monday, February 19, 2018, 12:50 [IST]
Other articles published on Feb 19, 2018