New 2000m world record is set in Zagreb

Francine Niyonsaba celebrates his world record last night in Zagreb (Photo: Boris Hanžeković Memorial)

ZAGREB, 15 Sept (Hina) – One world record and four meeting records were broken at the 71st Boris Hanžeković Memorial athletics meeting in Zagreb.

A world record was set for the first time in the meeting’s history.  Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi won the 2,000 metres race with a time of 5:21.56, breaking the previous record of 5:23.75 set by Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba in 2017.

The meeting’s records were set in the men’s 400m and pole vault events and the women’s 200m and triple jump events.

Blanka Vlašić and Sandra Perković (Photo: Boris Hanžeković Memorial)

In the women’s 200m race, Namibian Christine Mboma clocked in at 22.04 seconds, breaking the previous record of 22.35 set by American Allyson Felix in 2012. Jamaican Shericka Jackson was second with a time of 22.30 and Bahamian Anthonique Strachan finished third at 23.05.

Devon Allen (Photo: Boris Hanžeković Memorial)

In the women’s triple jump, Jamaican Shanieka Ricketts jumped 14.77m, 19cm longer than the meeting’s record set 12 years ago by Cuban Mabel Gay. Slovenian Neja Filipič was second with a jump of 14.37 and Finn Senni Salminen was third at 14.24.

Sandra Perković and Valerie Allman (Photo: Boris Hanžeković Memorial)

In the men’s pole vault event, American KC Lightfoot won with a result of 5.87m, setting the new record of the meeting. The previous record was held by Russian Timur Morgunov, who cleared 5.76m in 2018. American Sam Kendricks was second and Australian Kurtis Marschall was third, both clearing 5.82m.

(Photo: Boris Hanžeković Memorial)

In the men’s 400m race, Grenadian Kirani James won with a time of 44.46 seconds, setting the new record of the meeting. The previous record of 44.94 was set by American Gil Roberts in 2017. Botswana’s Isaac Makwala was second (45.15) and Italian Edoardo Scotti finished third (45.30).