Niels Laros achieved a sensational victory in the English mile at the Diamond League competitions in Eugene, USA, on Saturday. The athlete won after a long final sprint in a Dutch record. Kenyan Beatrice Chebet made history in the 5,000 meters.
The twenty-year-old Laros overtook the two runners in front after a long final sprint and won the race in a national record of 3:45.94. He took almost three seconds off the previous national record (3:48.93), which was also held by the athlete from Oosterhout.
American favorite Yared Nuguse and Frenchman Azeddine Habz attempted to break the world record of 3:43.13, set in 1999 by Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj, in the Bowerman Mile. The pair took a considerable lead over the rest of the field, but their pace dropped in the final lap.
Laros started an acceleration in the last lap that brought him closer and closer to the two in front. With a supreme effort, the young Dutchman managed to overtake both runners and run the seventh-fastest time ever. Stefan Nillessen finished thirteenth in 3:49.53.
Jorinde van Klinken finished fourth in the discus throw with a distance of 66.19 meters. Jessica Schilder finished fifth in the shot put with a distance of 20.03 meters. Denzel Comenentia finished sixth in the hammer throw (76.51 meters).
Chebet Achieves World First
Chebet has made athletics history in the 5 kilometer. The 25-year-old Kenyan broke the world record with a time of 13:58.06. This makes her the first woman to run this distance in under fourteen minutes.
The world record in the 5,000 meters had been held for two years by Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay. In September 2023, she ran almost five seconds under the then-world record of Faith Kipyegon, but remained just above fourteen minutes: 14:00.21.
Chebet also holds the world record in the 10,000 meters for women. In May 2024, she became the first woman to run under 29 minutes. She clocked 28:54.14, also in Eugene. This world record in the 10,000 meters was held by Sifan Hassan in 2021, although only for two days.
Chebet’s compatriot Kipyegon sharpened her own world record in the 1,500 meters in Eugene. The three-time Olympic and world champion in the distance recorded a time of 3:48.68, slightly below her old world record of 3:49.04.