TOKYO:

Olympic champion Masai Russell believes the "crazy" level of competition in the 100 metres hurdles means the world record is going to fall soon and thinks she could be the first woman to go under 12 seconds in the event.

The 25-year-old American has dominated over the high hurdles this year with three of the five fastest times, including a scorching 12.17 seconds in Florida in May that was only five hundredths of a second behind Tobi Amusan's world mark of 12.12.

Nigerian Amusan has also been posting fast times this season, as have Russell's compatriots Grace Stark and Tia Jones, Jamaican Ackera Nugent and Dutchwoman Nadine Visser.

All barring Jones will be on the track at the world championships when the heats begin on Sunday morning and Russell thinks that will guarantee fast

See Full Page