DANNY Talbot ran a new personal best at the World Championships in Beijing as the fastest man on earth blazed a trail into the men’s 200m final.

The Trowbridge Tornado shaved 0.03 seconds off his all-time best as he clocked in at 20.27 in this afternoon’s semi-finals whilst Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt – the reigning world and Olympic champion – sauntered to victory in 19.95.

Talbot, 23, was sixth in the third semi of the day, 13th-fastest overall, and was delighted with his display, despite his campaign coming to an end.

“You can only come to a championships and hope to perform to your best,” said Talbot.

“I’ve now run my fastest and third-fastest times ever, so I can’t complain.

“In terms of the way the race went, I think it went really well. I got a really good start and I wanted to put the field under pressure because that was the only way I was going to qualify and I think I did that.

“I’ve worked very hard on my start with a UK athletics biomechanist called Ross (Tugwood) and it’s nice that I transferred it into a race and I’m just positive that I’ve come away with a personal best – I couldn’t do much more.”

Elsewhere, Talbot’s Great Britain team-mate Zharnel Hughes shone by winning his semi in 20.14 whilst controversial American Justin Gatlin also progressed to tomorrow’s final (1.55pm UK time).