SOUTH BEND, Indiana (CMC)

Grenadian teenager Kirani James majestically ran a world-leading 45.79 seconds to win the men's 400 metres at the Meyo Invitational Indoor meet on Saturday.

The 17-year-old James, on debut for the University of Alabama, eclipsed the previous 2010 world best of 45.81 by the US Virgin Islands' Tabarie Henry.

The 2009 IAAF World Youth Championship double gold medallist was unchallenged as he strode to a commanding win over Ohio State's Thomas Murdaugh and Iowa's Steven Willey.

Murdaugh was a well-beaten second in 46.43 and Willey clocked 47.22 for third behind James, who only last month accepted a full athletics scholarship to the University of Alabama.

The promising James is being coached at Alabama by Harvey Glance, a former 100-metre world-record holder.

Glance was among the coaches visiting Grenada last year when a flurry of US Colleges sent scouts to lure the young sensation.

James ran a scorching 45.45 seconds to erase Usain Bolt's six-year-old CARIFTA Games record of 46.35 in St Lucia last April and IAAF media reps labelled him 'the next Usain Bolt' after the 16-year-old delivered a majestic sprint double success at the IAAF World Youth (Under-18) Championship in Italy last July.

He ran a brilliant World Youth championship record 45.24 to win the 400 metres and also captured the 200 metres.