Switzerland's Lisa Urech clocked a new national 100m hurdles record of 12.62 at the Resisprint meet in La Chaux De Fonds on Sunday.
The favourable altitude of 997m certainly helped but it was still a superb performance by the gold medal favourite for the 2011 European Athletics U23 Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic, later this month.
She not only improved upon Julie Baumann’s former record of 12.76, which had stood for 20 years, but it is also a fastest time by a European this year.
Ireland’s Derval O´Rourke, the 2010 European Athletics Championships silver medallist, was second on this occasion as well with 12.84.
Great Britain’s 400m hurdler Nathan Woodward clocked 48.71 for second place on the European list this year. It was also a British under 23 record and he is the fastest European U23 hurdler this year and, like Urech, is the clear favourite to take the honours at the 2011 European Athletics U23 Championships.
Great Britain’s Jeanette Kwakye posted second fastest 100m time by a European this year when she won in 11.15, with France’s European 200m champion Myriam Soumaré second in 11.25, although Soumaré won the 200m in a wind-assisted 23.00.
Britain’s Harry Aikines-Aryeetey posted the fastest men’s 200m time of 20.46, which was also a personal best for the former 100m world junior champion. Another British win came in the 400m when Luke Lennon-Ford, who improved to 45.56, the fastest European under 23 time of the year.
France’s 2010 European Athletics Championships 110m hurdles fourth placer Dimitri Bascou improved to 13.37 when winning his event.