Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen came close to the world record for the mile (around 1,609 meters) during the finals of the Athletics Diamond League on Saturday in Eugene (Oregon, United States).
In 3’43”73, Ingebrigtsen achieved the third best time in history over this historic distance but not run in the championship. With a new European record, he came close to the world record held by Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj since 1999 (3’43”13). The American Yared Nuguse finished on the heels of Ingebrigtsen in 3’43”97, 4th fastest time of all time and United States record.
The Norwegian was beaten in August in the 1,500m final of the Budapest World Championships by Briton Josh Kerr, before capturing the 5,000m title. Competing in Eugene, Azeddine Habz took 8th place in the mile in 3’48”64 and thus broke the French record for the distance held since 1995 by Eric Dubus (3’50”33).
In the women’s 1,500m, Kenyan world champion Faith Kipyegon ended her undefeated season over the distance with a time of 3’50”72, the 5th of all time, less than two seconds from her established world record in Florence (Italy) in June (3’49”11). Bahrain’s Winfred Mutile Yavi, crowned in Budapest, dominated the 3,000 m steeplechase in 8’50”66, the second time in history, however far from the record of the Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech (8’44”32 ).
