Runner's & Triathlete's Web Athletics (TPR): 7.68 WR For Kallur In Karlsruhe

Swede Susanna Kallur took down an 18-year-old world record in the 60m hurdles today, clocking 7.68 at the BW Bank Meeting in Karlsruhe, Germany.

The 26-year-old clipped a scant .01 seconds off the previous record of 7.69 set by Ludmila Engqvist on Feb. 4, 1990, when she was competing for the former Soviet Union.

Kallur, the European sprint hurldes champion indoors and outdoors, has been on a tear in 2008, rewriting the all-time lists in the event. After her 7.72 victory in Stuttgart last Saturday, Kallur indicated that a faster performance was possible. [For more on Kallur, please see TPR #724.] Kallur will now be the heavy favorite for gold at next month’s World Indoor Championships in Valencia, Spain. Two years ago, she took the bronze medal at the world indoors.

American Lolo Jones was second, clocking 7.77 to become the second fastest American of all-time. Among Americans, only Gail Devers, at 7.74 and 7.76, has run faster.

NOTE: Thanks to Ed Gordon in Karlsruhe.