Coleman breaks World Indoor 60m record with 6.37 in Clemson

Tennessee track star Christian Coleman set the new world record in the 60-meter dash at 6.37 seconds during the Clemson Invitational on Friday.

If ratified, the performance by the 21-year-old at the Rock Norman Track & Field Complex would take 0.02 seconds off the world record that was set in 1998 - and then equalled in 2001 - by fellow U.S. sprinter Maurice Greene.

The Georgia native ran eight sub-10-second times in the 100 meters in 2017, including an NCAA-record 9.82-second time before announcing that he was turning professional.

Coleman, who improved his previous 60m best of 6.45, is expected to compete at the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham this March.

The time still needs to be ratified by athletics' world governing body, the IAAF.

While at Tennessee, Coleman had an incredible junior season.

Earlier in the day at Clemson, Coleman won his heat in 6.47. It was also set by an American, Maurice Greene, in Madrid, Spain.

Coleman's tag as America's next sprint hope was established previous year when he clocked a world-best 9.82 seconds in the 100m at the US collegiate championships before he edged the legendary Usain Bolt for silver at the world championships.