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More news articles Defar runs 8:24.46 at Sparkassen Cup
Meseret Defar narrowly misses breaking her own world indoor 3000m record at the Sparkassen Cup but her performance is the third fastest ever recorded
FORMER Olympic 5000m champion Meseret Defar narrowly missed breaking her world indoor 3000m record at the Sparkassen Cup in Stuttgart on February 6.
The three-time world indoor champion set her world record of 8:23.72 on this track and the 26-year-old covered the first kilometre in 2:48.94, which was just shy of world record pace.
Defar, who passed through 2km in 5:40.88, knew the world record was still just in touch but despite closing with a final kilometre of 2:43.58, a revision of her three-year-old record narrowly eluded her, as the 2007 world 5000m champion clocked 8:24.46.
Despite narrowly falling short of her record, Defar’s time was the third fastest ever recorded and it also demonstrates the Ethiopian is back to her best form, after disappointing performances at last year’s World Championships.
Finishing just behind Defar, former world junior 5000m record-holder Sentayehu Ejigu produced a great breakthrough performance, as the 2004 Olympic 5000m finalist set a substantial PB of 8:25.27 for third on the all-time lists.
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