Mo Farah produced a stunning performance on Saturday to land a world indoor best.
Europe’s leading long-distance runner smashed the 2-mile mark previously held by Ethiopia’s Kenenise Bekele as he triumphed in style in 8:03.40 in Birmingham.
It is unbelievable, so many people have asked me when I was going to break a world record and now I have. I could sense it (was on) from the crowd and with 200m to go I saw the clock and knew I had to run under 30 seconds. It's amazing. Training has been going well and I am so pleased.
Farah was one of the stars of last summer’s European Athletics Championships in Zurich when he won both the 5000m and 10,000m, repeating a double he had achieved in Barcelona in 2010.
It means he now holds the golds at those distances at Olympic, world and European level.
But on Saturday it was all about attacking the clock as he chased Bekele’s mark of 8:04.35, set at the same meeting seven years ago.
Once Farah took command in the second mile, he was always in control, and he ran that half of the race in a sub-four minute mile of 3:59.5.
Farah was in such command he won by over 10 seconds, a stunning outcome with Kenya's Paul Kipsiele second in 8:13.46 and American Bernard Lagat third in 8:17.05.
Great afternoon in Birmingham. Super performances but for me the standouts were @johnsonthompson and @Mo_Farah 's record breaking results.
— Paula Radcliffe (@paulajradcliffe) February 21, 2015
At this same meeting Katarina Johnson-Thompson confirmed she will compete in the pentathlon at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Prague - after once more demonstrating what an amazing season she is having.
The British multi-eventer treated a packed home crowd to a national indoor record in the long jump with a winning effort of 6.93m, the best in Europe this year.
So happy (even if I didn't look it!) to have jumped a PB and new indoor national record in the Long Jump today! Next stop Prague...
— KJT (@JohnsonThompson) February 21, 2015
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