NAIROBI, Kenya — A championship record and massive new personal best of 13.08 seconds (0.5m/s) in the first round of the boys 110m hurdles by gold medal favourite Dejour Russell, highlighted this morning’s third session of the IAAF World Under 18 Championships at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya.

Russell’s time beat his previous best of 13.31 seconds set earlier this year and is the second fastest ever in the event, only behind the World Best 12.96 seconds set by Jamaican Jaheel Hyde in China in 2014 and ahead of Frenchman Wilhem Belocian’s 13.12 seconds done in Lens, France in 2012.

The 17-year-old Russell easily won his first round heat beating Denvaughn Whymns of the Bahamas, who ran a personal best 13.56 seconds.

The second Jamaican Brithon Senior also advanced to the semis-finals set for Friday after he ran 13.83 seconds to finish fourth in his first round heat and advance on time.

Also this morning, Sanique Walker qualified for the girls 400m hurdles with the fastest time after she won her heat in 58.74 seconds and Rovane Williams won his first round heat in a big new personal best 51.94 seconds.

Cemore Donald did not complete her 800m first round race.

Paul Reid