ATHENS, July 1: In-form American 400 metres hurdler James Carter has ruled out the chances of setting a world record at the Athens Grand Prix on Monday.

Carter, the fastest man over the distance this year with 47.72, said it was too soon to think about beating Kevin Young's time of 46.78 in the final of the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

“It's possible because records are made to be broken but it's a long way off any of the leading contenders at the moment,” Carter told a news conference on Sunday. “It's possible but probably not this year, maybe next year.”

Carter will line up at the Olympic Stadium against a top field including compatriot and world champion Bershawn Jackson, Olympic gold medallist Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic and Greece's European Champion Pericles Iakovakis.

“Pericles has the home field, Bershawn has the stadium record. Kerron Clement isn't here but otherwise this a very strong field,” said Carter.

One athlete who has not ruled out a world record on Monday is German javelin thrower Christina Obergfoell who improved her European record to 70.20 metres last weekend in Munich.

The world record, held by Cuban Osleidys Menendez who has pulled out of the Athens event, stands at 71.70 metres.—Reuters