An eight-year-old cheetah called Sarah has broken the world speed record for land animals.

Covering 100 metres in 6.13 seconds, Sarah set a new speed record for all land mammals in Cincinnati yesterday.

The middle-aged cheetah shaved more than 3 seconds off the fastest human time, 9.58 seconds, set by Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt this year.

Running on a specially designed course at Cincinnati Zoo's Cheetah Breeding Facility, Sarah pipped the record of 6.19 seconds set by a cheetah in South Africa in 2001. Chasing a lure similar to those used in greyhound racing, she hit speeds of up to 60mph.

"We are so thrilled that Sarah has smashed this record," said Cathryn Hilker, 78, the organiser of the attempt.

"She undertook three attempts to break the record and smashed it on the second time of asking. Each time she ran she rested for 15 minutes to make sure the heat did not get to her."

The run was put together by the Cat Ambassador Programme at Cincinnati Zoo.

Ms Hilker said: "These events are designed to highlight conservation of these wonderful creatures and to make people realise what they could lose."

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