London 2017 100m Silver medallist Christian Coleman will not be denied the World Record in the men’s 60m! Exactly a month ago while competing in Clemson, Coleman lowered Maurice Greene’s former WR of 6.39m first set in 1998, clocking a new mark of 6.37m. However, the time was not ratified as the starting blocks used were not wired, as well as the lack of on-site drug testing.
But while competing at the US Indoor Track and Field Championships which was held from February 16 to 19, Coleman went on to shatter Greene’s WR while competing in the final of the men’s 60m on the last day of the championship, extending his unbeaten run at the competition.
The 21-year old had earlier clocked the overall fastest time of 6.46s in the heats, giving an indication of things to come in the final. Ronnie Baker and Mike Rodgers won their respective heats in 6.47s and 6.52s.
In the final, he stormed to the WR with a Personal Best (PB) of 6.34s despite raising his arms in celebration as he crossed the finishing line. Baker followed with a PB of 6.40s as Rodgers settled for 3rd with 6.50s.
Coleman said afterwards: “I was just trying to come out with the win. I knew it would take something special with a great group of guys in the field and so I was just running to win. The world record was just icing on the cake really.
“My start was decent but every time I feel like I got a lot of work to do. And so, when I transitioned and I stood up, I felt as good as I have ever felt. I kept running and saw that tape and got that line. It was a world record and it was pretty special. A pretty special race.”
The women’s race was taken by Nike’s Javianne Oliver who posted a World Lead (WL) and PB of 7.02s, as Destiny Carter followed with a PB of 7.19s.
Sharika Nelvis stole the show in the women’s 60m Hurdles where she upstaged 100m Hurdles WR holder Kendra Harrison to set an American Record of 7.70s, making her the third-fastest athlete of all time over the distance. Harrison equalled her PB of 7.72s in 2nd place, finishing one hundredth of a second faster that Christina Manning who also clocked a PB.
Jarret Eaton clocked a PB (7.43s) to beat WR holder Aries Merritt to the title in the men’s 60m Hurdles, with the former following in 7.46s. Devon Allen settled for 3rd with a PB of 7.49s.
Courtney Okolo won the women’s 400m with a Season’s Best (SB) and WL of 51.16s, with Shakima Wimbley following closely in an SB of 51.17s. Reigning World Champion Phyllis Francis settled for 3rd position with a time of 51.19s.
Michael Cherry stunned the rest of the field to win the men’s 400m in a PB of 45.53s, with Aldrich Bailey (45.59s), Vernon Norwood (45.60s) and Paul Dedewo (45.61s) following, relegating London 2017 finalist Fred Kerley to 5th place with his time of 45.63s.
Jarrion Lawson was the man to beat in the Long Jump event where he soared to the 2nd best distance in the world this year, which is just 2cm shy of Luvo Manyonga’s WL of 8.40m. Marquis Dendy set an SB of 8.22m in 2nd place, with Michael Hartfield finishing 3rd with his PB of 8.18m.
Reigning World Champion Brittney Reese leapt to an SB of 6.88m to dominate the women’s Long Jump event, with Quanesha Burks and Jessie Gaines following with 6.65m and 6.47m respectively.
