Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Lamecha Girma had historic days at the Diamond League meet in Paris.
Ingebrigtsen and Girma not only won their respective events (2 mile, 3000m steeplechase) at the meet, but they also broke the world record in the events that they competed in as well.
Ingebrigtsen left no stone unturned in his record breaking win. He won the race by 15 seconds against a loaded field of athletes. He broke Daniel Komen’s world record that he set back in 1997.
“Being able to break this mark feels amazing,” he said in an interview with World Athletics after the race. “It is my first world best outdoors. The pace felt very smooth for me, coming out of the 1500m. The public was amazing; without their help, it would have been more difficult. I was a bit surprised by the time in the end.”
In the steeplechase, Lamecha Girma lit up the track, breaking the world record in the event with his time of 7:52.11. He broke Saeed Shaheen’s 19-year record in the event.
“I feel so happy,” Girma told World Athletics in an interview after the race. “I’m happy and very proud. I felt so fast during the race, so confident. The world record is not a surprise; it was my plan to beat it tonight in Paris. It’s the result of my full determination.”