Christian Coleman breaks world 60m record with stunning performance as he continues march to be next Usain Bolt
The American, 21, is still only in his first full year as a professional athlete
CHRISTIAN COLEMAN shattered a two-decade old record as he continues his march to be the 'New Usain Bolt'.
The American, 21, beat Maurice Greene's 60m record with a stunning time of 6.37secs at Clemson, South Carolina.
The time, if ratified by global governing body IAAF, shaves 0.02 seconds off the mark countryman Greene - who won Olympic gold at Sydney 2000 - initially established in 1998 and then matched in 2001.
Coleman is still in his first full year of being a pro - and this stunning performance came in his first race of the season.
He won two silver medals in London at the World Championships in August.
He beat Usain Bolt to finish second behind Justin Gatlin in the 100m, before winning a team silver in the 4x100m.
His coach Tim Hall told Reuters: "I'm in disbelief. "This was his season opener. It was totally unexpected."
The two had chosen the small meeting at Clemson University to see where the talented sprinter stood in terms of upcoming competitions, including next month's Boston Indoor Grand Prix and March's world indoor championships in Birmingham, England.
"So we got through the prelims and felt pretty good since he backed off a little before the finish and still ran 6.47," Hall said.
The time was the fastest in the world this year and 0.02 seconds slower than Coleman's personal best.
"So we talked a little bit more before the final," Hall said. "And like I always tell him, I said: 'Relax, no pressing and allow the run to happen.'
"That was the result."
Coleman's tag as America's next sprint hope was established last year when he clocked a world-best 9.82 seconds in the 100m at the US collegiate championships.
That was before he made a name for himself in Stratford.
"We have been having some great practice sessions," Hall added. "And he has been improving his strength development, so I guess it is all coming together."
Ironically, after the race, Hall said Coleman told him the start had not felt right, which pleased the coach.
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"Anytime I hear that from an athlete that means they are getting close to doing what we are trying to get accomplished," Hall said.
"It might not have felt right to him, but it couldn't have been wrong if he ran that fast."
So how fast can the former Tennessee sprinter run?
"We will get back to Knoxville and look at the tape and see the technical things we can improve on to get even faster," Hall added.
"Today was a pretty good starting point."