Trinidad and Tobago-born Kerron Clement of the University of Florida erased Michael Johnson's 10 year-old 400-metres indoor world record when he clocked 44.57 to highlight the second and final day of the NCAA Indoor Championships on Saturday.
The reigning world junior 400m hurdles champion, who moved to United States, was a superstar while attending high school at La Porte, Texas, both as a hurdler and sprinter. Johnson's record looked threatened after Clement flashed past the 200m mark in 21.08. Split up in two final heats, the 19-year-old sophomore led the four-man race from the gun to the finish to see off Kelly Willie of Lousiana State and upset Olympic 1600m relay gold medallist Darold Williamson of Baylor."This is amazing," Clement said. "I can't describe how I feel right now."
"Seriously, I wanted to cry, because it was so overwhelming that I knew I broke the world record of the great Michael Johnson, and now I have it," he added
Clement's previous best in the 400 was 45.29 on this same track two weeks ago at the Southeastern Conference championships (SEC).
Clement crossed the finish line seven metres ahead of his closest rival Terry Gatson of Arkansas, second in 45.29, while Williamson had to settle for fourth and last in 46.26. Clement then joined Jamaica's Sekou Clarke and anchored Florida to victory in the 4x400-meter relay in a new collegiate record 3:03.51.
Jamaica Ricardo Chambers, who squeezed into the finals, won race one in 46.28. Trinidad and Tobago's Damion Barry was third in Chambers' heat in 46.68 to take 7th place overall.
