Lamecha Girma has smashed the 25-year-old world indoor record in the 3000m, at a World Indoor Tour Gold meeting in Liévin, France.
The Ethiopian, who has one Olympic and two world silver medals in the 3000m steeplechase, shaved 1.09 seconds off the previous mark, set by Kenya's Daniel Komen in February 1998.
Spain’s Mohamed Katir finished a close second and both athletes dipped under Komen's record. But it was Girma who reigned supreme, stretching away from Katir on the home straight to finish in 7:23.81. Katir, however, does have the consolation of running a new European record of 7:24.68.
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Afterwards, Girma told World Athletics:
'I am so happy with this result. I was talking about this world record attempt for the past three days. My brother is my coach. He told me I had it in me and of course I believed him. I felt really good in training and it was my best form ever, plus the crowd was very supportive today.
'The pacers and the Wavelight were perfect – it all clicked. I have raced here several times in this meeting. The atmosphere and the crowd never disappoint. I hope the record stays for a long time.'
Elsewhere in Liévin, Keely Hodgkinson won the 800m in a world-leading time of one minute 57.71 seconds, after fighting off Kenya's Commonwealth Games champion Mary Moraa. However, the 20-year-old appeared disappointed to have not got closer to her own British indoor record of 1:57.20, despite improving on her previous world-leading time of 1:57.87, set at the Copernicus Cup in Torun last week.
Olympic 1500m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen also set a world lead over 1500m, winning in 3:32.38, despite having missed more than a month’s training because of a viral infection.
