Katharine Merry shattered both herself and the 400m British indoor record in front of a hugely appreciative home crowd yesterday as she ran the ninth fastest time ever.

Last weekend Merry ran the distance indoors for the first time and pipped the old mark by coming home in 51.54 – a 0.15s improvement.

But that was obliterated in a stunning display by Merry as she was roared to the line by the 8,000 crowd in 50.53.

The result was the second fastest time in the world this year, and the ninth best ever.

Merry, who comes from Dunchurch, near Rugby, was clearly exhausted by her efforts and said the fantastic result would not make her change her mind about competing in the world championships in Portugal in March.

She said:

“Even if I had run 48.5 I still wouldn’t have gone to Lisbon. I don’t need the pressure of running rounds in March.”

Merry added that she would run in the 2003 world indoors as they were being held in Birmingham.