For 28 years, Daniel Komen’s 3000m world record of 7:20.67 stood as the most intimidating mark in distance running. On a hot August evening in Chorzów, Poland, Jakob Ingebrigtsen did not just break it — he erased it, crossing the line in 7:17.55.
A demolition in numbers
Running at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, the Silesia leg of the Wanda Diamond League, the 23-year-old Norwegian became the first man in history under 7:20. He took more than three seconds off Komen’s legendary mark and, in a single race, dropped the sport’s longest‑standing distance record to a distant second on the all‑time list.
The pace was fast from the start. Belgian pacer Pieter Sisk took the field through the opening kilometre in 2:27.5, with American Vincent Ciattei carrying on to 1900m. By then only three Ethiopians remained in contact before Ingebrigtsen opened a gap with a 57.46 second‑last lap and closed with a 55.45 final circuit.
“It feels special, amazing,” he told meet organizers. “I was hoping to challenge the world record here, but based on my training, I can never predict exactly what kind of time I am capable of. I would not have imagined I could run 7:17, though.”
Berihu Aregawi held on for second in 7:21.28, while Yomif Kejelcha took third in 7:28.44. The conditions were tough — 29 degrees Celsius with gusts up to 38 kilometres per hour. “The conditions were difficult with the heat today, but it is the same for everyone,” Ingebrigtsen said, adding that his team uses ice vests and ensures he stays hydrated.
The peak of a relentless season
The run arrived just days after Ingebrigtsen had beaten Olympic 1500m champion Cole Hocker in Lausanne. It came barely two weeks after his five‑race Olympic programme, where he won 5000m gold. On World Athletics scoring tables, 7:17.55 rates 1320 points, bettered only by Kelvin Kiptum’s marathon.
The oldest men’s distance world record now belongs to Hicham El Guerrouj’s 3:26.00 1500m from 1998. A record that stood for nearly three decades fell in just over seven minutes.
