Double world silver medallist makes history with time of 6.34 at US Indoor Championships

Christian Coleman has smashed the world indoor 60m record after storming to victory in 6.34 at the US Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

After winning his heat in 6.46 and his semi-final in 6.42 despite easing down, the double world silver medallist returned to the track to improve the previous ratified world record mark set by his fellow American Maurice Greene in 1998 by 0.05.

Coleman had already beaten that mark with 6.37 in Clemson on his season opener in January, however that record may not have been ratified due to the lack of electronic starting blocks at the meet in South Carolina.

In Albuquerque, Coleman started with a reaction time of 0.149 and then threw his arms open wide in celebration as he crossed the finish line, after being chased by defending champion Ronnie Baker who came close to the previous world record with 6.40 to move to third on the world all-time list.

Michael Rodgers finished third in 6.50.

“I was just trying to come out with the win,” Coleman told USATF.

“For it to be the world record was pretty special. I just love this sport. 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.”

Coleman, who claimed world 100m silver behind Justin Gatlin and ahead of Usain Bolt in London last summer, had a 60m best of 6.45 before this year.

The 21-year-old world 4x100m silver medallist has also run 9.82 for 100m – the fastest time in the world last year – and 19.85 for 200m.

Also at the US Indoors on Sunday, an impressive women’s 60m hurdles final saw Sharika Nelvis break the US record with 7.70 ahead of world 100m hurdles record-holder Kendra Harrison with a PB-equalling 7.72 and Christina Manning with a 7.73 lifetime best.

Three athletes went sub-7.50 in the men’s final, with Jarret Eaton clocking a 7.43 PB to win ahead of world 110m hurdles record-holder Aries Merritt with 7.46 and Devon Allen with a 7.49 PB.

Katie Nageotte also showed superb form as she cleared a world-leading pole vault PB of 4.91m on her first attempt to beat Olympic and world silver medallist Sandi Morris with 4.86m and 2012 Olympic champion Jenn Suhr with 4.81m. Nageotte cleared all heights on her first try before three unsuccessful attempts at a world indoor record height of 5.04m.

Four-time world champion Brittney Reese won her fourth US indoor long jump title after recording a world-leading 6.88m, while Vashti Cunningham claimed the high jump win as she cleared 1.97m. The women’s 60m title was won by Javianne Oliver in a world-leading PB of 7.02.

Paul Chelimo and Shelby Houlihan both completed 1500m and 3000m doubles in consecutive days, Chelimo running 3:42.91 and 7:57.88 and Houlihan clocking 4:13.07 and 9:00.08.

Donavan Brazier ran an indoor PB of 1:45.10 to win the 800m title and the women’s race was won by Ajee’ Wilson in 2:01.60, as 400m wins were claimed by Michael Cherry in a 45.53 indoor PB and Courtney Okolo in a world-leading 51.16.

Saturday’s action had seen world silver medallist Jarrion Lawson leap 8.38m to win the long jump in a competition in which four athletes recorded marks of 8.14m or further. World indoor champion Marquis Dendy was second with 8.22m.

Scott Houston beat world champion Sam Kendricks to the pole vault title, clearing 5.83m, while Erik Kynard won the high jump for the fifth consecutive time with a 2.30m clearance.

On Friday, Erica Bougard retained her pentathlon title with a world-leading score of 4760 points.

Full results can be found here.