Berlin – Olympic champion Aries Merritt again went close to the world 110m hurdles record on Sunday at Berlin's ISTAF meet after clocking 12.97sec to go under 13 seconds for the seventh time this season.
“Every time we try, it never happens, but I am satisfied with the time at this meet and especially to go under 13 seconds again,” said the 27-year-old, with Cuba's Dayron Robles still holding the world record of 12.87sec.
“And to run under 13 seconds without someone to push me, as was the case in my previous races, tells me something,” he added having finished half a second ahead of compatriot Ryan Wilson at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.
Merritt ran 12.92sec to win the Olympic title in London and with his final outing of the season scheduled for Brussels on Friday, he expects to get faster next season.
“I know what I did this season will continue next season. Remember (Usain) Bolt ran in 9.6 in 2008 and then dropped to 9.5secs the following season at the (2009) World Championships here in Berlin,” noted Merritt.
Elsewhere, 35-year-old Olympic champion Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic won the 400m hurdles while Germany's Olympic and world discus champion Robert Harting picked up his 34th consecutive win with a throw of 67.40m. – Sapa-AFP