LOS ANGELES (AFP) - World 100m silver medallist Christian Coleman opened his 2018 campaign by breaking the 60m indoor world record with a time of 6.37sec on Friday (Jan 19).
The 21-year-old American set the new mark at the low-level Clemson Invitational track meet to surpass the previous record of 6.39sec held by fellow American Maurice Greene.
Greene ran the time twice, in 1998 in Madrid, Spain, and 2001 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Coleman's previous best was 6.45sec at last year's US collegiate indoor championships.
"Great start to my career," tweeted Coleman, who is in his first year as a professional athlete.
The time still needs to be ratified by athletics' world governing body, the IAAF.
The meet at Clemson University in South Carolina was the first event of the season for Coleman.
Earlier in the day, he ran a time of 6.47sec. Compatriot Tevin Hester was second in 6.57sec while Warren Fraser of the Bahamas finished third with a time of 6.69sec.
Coleman set prodigious times as a college athlete and has been hailed as a potential Olympic champion.
He ran the fastest 100m time of 2017 with 9.82sec but in the world final in London, he was beaten by fellow American Justin Gatlin as Jamaican great Usain Bolt finished third.
