Aries Merritt shattered the existing world record in the men’s 110-meter hurdles by .07 seconds at the Brussels Diamond League meet Friday, which also secured the season Diamond League series win for the reigning gold medalist, while performances from Chaunte Lowe in the women’s high jump and Charonda Williams in the women’s 200m also secured Diamond League series wins. 

Merritt dominated a loaded field in a time of 12.80 to better Cuba’s Dayron Robles previous world record of 12.87 ran in 2008. It was the biggest drop in the world record since Renaldo Nehemiah dropped .28 seconds off the mark from 13.21 to 12.93 in 1981.

The performance comes in the midst of a brilliant season for Merritt that has included the Olympic gold medal and a World Indoor 60m title. Merritt owns the top seven times in the world this year and has run under 13 seconds a total of eight times. The time also bettered David Oliver’s American record of 12.89 set in 2010.

Lowe placed sixth in the women’s high jump Friday at 1.89m/6-2.25 and Williams finished third in the 200m in a time of 22.74 to help secure their Diamond League series wins.

Merritt, Lowe and Williams join Christian Taylor (men’s triple jump), Reese Hoffa (men’s shot put) and Dawn Harper (women’s 100m hurdles) as Diamond League series winners this year after each secured the season competition last week in Zurich.

Americans also picked up a top two finish from reigning Olympic silver medalist Jason Richardson, who placed second in the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.05.

Complete results of Friday’s Diamond League meet in Brussels can be found here. 

2012 American Diamond League series winners
Aries Merritt (men’s 110m hurdles)
Chaunte Lowe (women’s high jump)
Charonda Williams (women’s 200m)
Christian Taylor (men’s triple jump)
Reese Hoffa (men’s shot put)
Dawn Harper (women’s 100m hurdles)

American results in Brussels
1) Aries Merritt - men’s 110m hurdles (12.80 WR)
2) Jason Richardson - men’s 110m hurdles (13.05)
3) Charonda Williams - women’s 200m (22.74)
4) Matthew Centrowitz - men’s 1,500m (3:32.47)
4) Brenda Martinez - women’s 800m (1:59.14)
5) Bianca Knight - women’s 200m (22.86)
5) Anna Pierce - women’s 800m (1:59.16)
5) David Oliver - men’s 110m hurdles (13.21)
5) Calesio Newman - men’s 200m (20.32)
6) Darvis Patton - men’s 200m (20.53)
6) Chaunte Lowe - women’s high jump (1.89m/6-2.25)
6) Ryan Bailey - men’s 100m (10.04)
6) Calvin Smith - men’s 400m (45.58)
7) Angelo Taylor - men’s 400m (45.80)
7) Ryan Wilson - men’s 110m hurdles (13.26)
10) Molly Huddle - women’s 5,000m (15:01.32)
11) Leo Manzano - men’s 1,500m (3:34.85)