Girma breaks world indoor 3000m record with 7:23.81 in Lievin
Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma Wednesday broke the world indoor 3000m record with a stunning 7:23.81 run at the Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais, a World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold event.
The Ethiopian and Spain’s Mohamed Katir both dipped under the previous world record of 7:24.90 set by Kenya’s Daniel Komen in Budapest in 1998, Katir finishing second in a European record of 7:24.68.
It was fourth time lucky in Lievin for Girma, who had contested the 3000m at this meeting for the past three years.
In 2020 he missed out on a top-three finish. In 2021 he ran 7:27.98, one of the fastest times in history, but finished some way behind compatriots Getnet Wale and Selemon Barega. Girma won the 3000m here in 2022 but was a couple of seconds shy of his PB.
This time, though, the world indoor silver medallist was the man of the moment.
It was the 11th world record to have been set at the Arena Stade Couvert since home runner Bruno Marie Rose won the European indoor 200m title in 20.36.
Nigerians will remember 2003 African Games 100m champion, Deji Aliu set his 5.61 African 50m record and 6.48 Nigerian 60m record in February 1999 in Liévin.
