Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis electrified the athletics world on Sunday by setting new world records at the Silesia Diamond League meeting in Chorzow, Poland.
Ingebrigtsen, 23, obliterated the long-standing world record in the 3,000 meters, finishing in a remarkable time of seven minutes, 17.55 seconds. He surpassed the previous record of seven minutes, 20.67 seconds set by Kenya’s Daniel Komen in 1996, breaking the longest-standing men’s athletics world record in individual track events.
Upon crossing the finish line, an astonished Ingebrigtsen placed his hands on his head in disbelief. “It feels special, amazing,” he said. “I was hoping to challenge the world record here but, based on my training, I could never predict exactly what kind of time I was capable of. I would not have imagined I could run 7:17, though.”
Ingebrigtsen acknowledged the challenging conditions due to the heat but emphasized his determination. “The 3,000 is a tough distance. After four, five laps, you feel the lactic acid, but you need to keep going. The conditions were difficult with the heat today, but it is the same for everyone,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mondo Duplantis, the reigning Olympic champion, broke his own men’s pole vault world record by clearing an astounding 6.26 meters. The Swedish pole vaulter continues to push the boundaries of his sport, consistently raising the bar higher with each competition.
Ingebrigtsen’s victory came just days after he won the 1,500 meters in Lausanne with a time of 3:27.83, edging out American Cole Hocker. In Chorzow, he finished ahead of Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi, who set a personal best of 7:21.28, the third-fastest time in history. Fellow Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha secured third place.
The record-breaking performances of Ingebrigtsen and Duplantis have enthralled fans worldwide, highlighting a new era in athletics and setting the stage for exciting competitions ahead.
Reference(s):
New world records for Ingebrigtsen in 3,000m, Duplantis in pole vault
cgtn.com
