Thomas Barr has knocked a quarter of a second off his own Irish record over the 400 metres hurdles – a brilliant leap in a technically and physically demanding event.

Running in the Rome Diamond League meeting, Barr clocked 48.65 seconds, good enough for fourth place on the night, and surpassing his previous record of 48.90, set last summer in Geneva.

The 23 year-old Waterford athlete came to Rome in excellent form having finished third in the Doha Diamond League and lined up against a world-class field. Victory on the night went to the American Johnny Dutch, who clocked a season best of 48.13 seconds, with fellow American Michael Tinsley second in 48.34.

Then came former World Championship silver medallist Javier Culson, who also clocked 48.65, the same time as Barr. The Puerto Rican was given the nod for third place. The conditions were prefect for one-lap hurdling, although Barr was clearly surprised at just how much time he had taken off his record.

Barr is well on course to contest for a place in the final at the World Championships in Beijing in August, now just 11 weeks away. Before that he will be focusing on the World Student Games in Gwangju, South Korea, from July 3rd to 14th.

There were other impressive performances in Rome with Mohammed Aman from Ethiopia clocking the fastest time in the world this year over 800 metres with 1:43.56.