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Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, who currently holds three world records as well as a world best, attempted to take Kenyan, Daniel Komen’s 3000m world record of 7:20.67 on Wednesday. He ran fast but fell short by nearly 13 seconds.

Komen’s record is now 25-year’s-old.

In cold and breezy conditions, Cheptegei led most of the race at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic. If the temperature was warmer, he may have run faster, but nearly 13 seconds is a lot to make up. He did, however, clock a new personal best of 7:33.24 and a 2021 world-leading time.

Finishing second was American Paul Chelimo in the time of 7:41.69, while Ugandan Oscar Chelimo finished in third position recording a 7:43.00 performance. Paul Chelimo owns a best of 7:31.57, while the 19-year-old Oscar Chelimo set a new personal best in the race.


Cheptegei currently holds the 5K road record at 12:51, the 5,000 (12:35.36) and 10,000 metres record (26:11.00). He also holds the world best time in the 15-kilometre distance with his 41:05.

Komen’s 1996 world record stands out as a great performance with a points rating of 1299. However, Cheptegei’s own bests over 5000m and 10,000m are rated at 1302 and 1306, respectively. In the right situation, he will be able to take the record.

In other events at Ostrava, Jakob Kiplimo had an outstanding 10,000m race and won in the time of 26:33.93, which is a new personal best for the 19-year-old athlete from Uganda.

Great Britain’s Max Burgin won the men’s 800m race in the time of 1:44.14. It was a new personal best and European U20 record time for the Brit who turns 19 today. Finishing in second place was Tony Van Diepen of Holland in the time of 1:45.36, a new personal best. He was followed in by Jake Wightman of Great Britain clocking a 1:45.47. Wightman owns a best of 1:44.18 from Sept. 2020.

In the women’s 800m event Keely Hodgkinson won with a junior U20 record time of 1:58.89. Diribe Welteji of Ethiopia and Lovisa Lindh of Sweden finished second and third in the times of 1:59.79 and 2:01.10, respectively.

Full results from Ostrava are available here>>