Sergey Shubenkov was almost flawless in the men's 110m hurdles final and clocked 12.98 seconds for the gold at the world athletics championships in Beijing on Friday.

Jamaican Hansle Parchment claimed silver in 13.03 and Olympic champion and world record holder Aries Merritt of the United States had to settle for bronze in 13.04.

"I can't describe what I'm feeling now. I don't remember anything about the race. I heard the starting gun and then I opened my eyes and it's finished. My first thought when I crossed the finish line was -- is this really happening? Maybe when I woke up and it's not happening," said a jubilant Shubenkov, who's the 2013 world championships bronze medalist and two-time European champion.

"My bronze medal in Moscow was the first medal for a Russian hurdler at world championships, and now I improved it. I'm just super proud of myself and my coach.

"It's been hard three days, every race was tough and the final was the toughest. It was a challenge for everybody. I'm happy that our hard work all these years was not wasted," added the Russian.

Merritt, also the London 2012 Olympic Games gold medalist, has a kidney condition which will have a transplant early next week.

"I'm pleased with my time and my performance. I am looking forward to my kidney transplant. My sister will give me one kidney," Merritt said.

Defending champion David Oliver of the United States hit three of his first four hurdles and was never in the race, finishing seventh in 13.33.

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