Jakob Ingebrigtsen on Sunday in Silesia, Poland shattered one of the longest standing track world records.
He clocked a staggering seven minutes 17.55 seconds for the 3000 metres race, taking more than three seconds off the mark of 7:20.67 set by Kenya’s Daniel Komen in 1996.
It was a huge performance at the 12th Wanda Diamond League meeting of the season for the 23-year-old Norwegian.
He had lost his Olympic 1500m title at the Paris Games earlier this month, but he won the gold medal in the 5000m.
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Already third on the world all-time list with the 7:23.63 he ran in Eugene last year, he knew there was a big gap even to the second best performance of 7:23.09.
This was set by Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999.
But on this day, Ingebrigtsen became a history man, moving clear of the field over the final lap.
This was after passing the bell, with the green wavelight world record indicators scattering behind him as if they had fallen out of his pockets.
By the time he hit the finishing straight he was, astonishingly, 10 metres clear of the green light snake and put his hands to his head after crossing the line.
Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi, the Olympic 10,000m silver medallist, produced the third best performance of all time as he crossed second in 7:21.28.
BRANDPOWER reports that the new record is however subject to the usual ratification procedure by the sport’s global governing body, World Athletics.
Setting New World Record
Jakob Ingebrigtsen shattered one of the longest standing track world records on a sweltering afternoon at the Silesian Stadium on Sunday (25) as he clocked a staggering 7:17.55 for the 3000m, taking more than three seconds off the mark of 7:20.67 set by Kenya’s Daniel Komen in 1996.
And the 12th of this season’s Wanda Diamond League series ended on a dizzying high as Mondo Duplantis cleared 6.26m to earn his 10th pole vault world record, adding a centimetre to the mark he established in retaining his Olympic title in Paris earlier this month.
In a scintillating session watched by a record crowd of 42,357 which saw 10 meeting records set, Canada’s world 800m champion Marco Arop clocked 1:41.87 to beat Kenya’s Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, and Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy won against all odds in the men’s high jump.
It was a huge performance in the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial meeting for Ingebrigtsen, who lost his Olympic 1500m title in Paris earlier this month but won gold in the 5000m.
On the eve of the competition, the Norwgian had commented: “I’m excited about the race. The 3000m is a very good distance for me, and everything is lined up for something big.”
This was big. Already third on the world all-time list with the 7:23.63 he ran in Eugene last year, he knew there was a big gap even to the second best performance of 7:23.09, set by Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999.
But on this day Ingebrigtsen became a history man, moving clear of the field over the final lap after passing the bell with the green wavelight world record indicators scattering behind him as if they had fallen out of his pockets.
By the time the Norwegian hit the finishing straight he was, astonishingly, 10 metres clear of the snaking green lights and he put his hands to his head after crossing the line.
“It feels special, amazing,” said Ingebrigtsen. “I was hoping to challenge the world record here, but based on my training, I can never predict exactly what kind of time I am capable of. I would not have imagined I could run 7:17, though.
“At the beginning the pace felt really fast, but then I started to feel my way into the race and found a good rhythm. The 3000m is a tough distance. After 4-5 laps you feel the lactic acid, but you need to get going.
“The conditions were difficult with the heat today, but it is the same for everyone. I have a good team. We use ice vests, we make sure I stay hydrated and I am prepared.
“Now I want to challenge world records at all distances – but it is one step at a time.”
Etihopia’s Berihu Aregawi, the Olympic 10,000m silver medallist, produced the third best performance of all time as he crossed second in 7:21.28.
