Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen Smashes Long-Standing 3,000m World Record at Silesia Diamond League

Norwegian athlete Jakob Ingebrigtsen broke the 3,000 meters world record at the Silesia Diamond League, finishing with a time of 7:17.55, more than three seconds faster than the previous record set by Daniel Komen in 1996. Ingebrigtsen's performance was remarkable given his prior best time was nearly three seconds slower.

Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen shattered the long-standing 3,000 metres world record at the Silesia Diamond League meet on Sunday by more than three seconds.

Ingebrigtsen finished in a time of seven minutes 17.55 seconds, erasing the record set by Kenya's Daniel Komen in 1996 when he ran 7:20.67 in Rieti, Italy. It was the longest-standing men's athletics world record in individual track events. Ingebrigtsen's previous best time over the distance came in September last year when he was nearly three seconds slower than Komen's mark, but he was a man on a mission in Silesia.

The 23-year-old Norwegian was in shock when he crossed the line and looked at his time, putting his hands on his head in disbelief. Ingebrigtsen received a cheque for $50,000 and posed with it in front of the clock. 'It feels special, amazing. 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,' he said.

'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) 3,000 is a tough distance. After four-five 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.'

Three days ago, the Norwegian had exacted a small measure of revenge over American Cole Hocker by winning the 1,500m in Lausanne in 3:27.83, two weeks after Hocker shocked the Olympic field to win gold in Paris. He finished ahead of a trio of Ethiopians, with Paris Olympics 10,000m silver medallist Berihu Aregawi second in a personal best and the third-fastest time in history (7:21.28). Yomif Kejelcha was third.

'Now I want to challenge world records at all distances, but it is one step at a time,' Ingebrigtsen added.

(With inputs from agencies.)