Third fastest hurdle race of all time by Devon Allen

At Icahn Stadium in New York, Usain Bolt set his first world record in the 100 meters in 2008.

Last night it was close to another world record on those courses.

At the USATF New York Grand Prix, Devon Allen ran the 110-meter hurdles in the time of 12.84.

It was just four hundredths above Aries Merritt's world record, and the third fastest race ever.

Has signed an NFL contract

The only one, apart from world record holder Merritt, who ran faster than Allen is Grant Holloway, 12.81.

- I thought I would break the world record today, but it will have to wait until another race, says Allen on the International Athletics Federation's website.

27-year-old Allen, who signed a contract with the NFL team Philadelphia Eagles this spring and will start playing for them later this year, fell ill with covid-19 as recently as two weeks ago.

And that is exactly what he sees as a reason for the night's great results - because he then had to rest after a time of hard training for both athletics and American football.

- It was good for me to take it easy for a little over a week.

My legs are fresh and I feel good.

Now I can start training to be ready for the American championships and the World Cup, he says.