Animesh Kujur sprints to national record in Greece, Faith Kipyegon smashes 1500m world record

by

New Delhi: Indian sprinter Animesh Kujur broke the 100m national record with a timing of 10.18 seconds at the Dromia International Sprint and Relays Meeting in Greece on Saturday.

In fact, the 22-year-old became the first Indian to complete a 100m run under 10.20 seconds, surpassing Gurindervir Singh’s record of 10.20 seconds in the meet at Vari.

Greece’s Sotirios Garagganis finished second with a time of 10.23 seconds, while Samuli Samuelsson finished in 10.20 seconds to finish third in the World Athletics Continental Tour silver label meet.

Kujur now holds the record for both the 100m and 200m national records, having clocked 20.32 seconds in the men’s 200m final of the Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea in May. At that time, he broke his own previous mark of 20.40 seconds, which he created at the Federation Cup earlier this year.

Mohammed Afsal also created history on Saturday by becoming the first Indian to run under 1:45 in the men’s 800m, breaking his own national record at the Memorial Czeslawa Cybulskiego meet in Poznan, Poland.

The 29-year-old Asian Games silver medallist clocked an impressive 1:44.96 to finish sixth in a fast-paced Heat A/1. This performance betters his previous national record of 1:45.61, which he had set just last month at the UAE Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai, where he broke Jinson Johnson’s long-standing record from 2018.

Afsal’s achievement marks a big step for Indian middle-distance running, as he continues to push the boundaries and gain momentum ahead of upcoming international competitions.

The race in Poznan was a competitive one, with the top three spots taken by Polish runners who also achieved personal bests. Maciej Wyderka took first place with a time of 1:44.23, setting a new meet record. Filip Ostrowski followed closely with 1:44.25, and Patryk Sieradzki claimed third with a time of 1:44.56.

Afsal’s performance is a clear sign of his steady progress and determination, bringing hope for even stronger results in the global athletics circuit in the months ahead.

Kipyegon’s new world record

Faith Kipyegon has set a world record in the 1,500 meters at the Prefontaine Classic. The Kenyan finished the race in 3 minutes and 48.68 seconds, breaking down her previous mark of 3:49.04 set last July before the Paris Games.

The 31-year-old ran alone in the final stretch at Hayward Field, with the crowd rising to their feet as she powered to the finish. Moments later, Kipyegon draped herself in the Kenyan flag, soaking in the cheers after her record-breaking run. Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji finished second with a time of 3:51.44.

Just last month, Kipyegon attempted to break the four-minute barrier in the mile at Stade Charlety in Paris. She ran 4:06.42, the fastest mile ever by a woman, but the time wasn’t recognised officially as it came in an unsanctioned event.

Alongside her Olympic glory, Kipyegon has won the 1500m at the last three World Championships and claimed a silver in the 5,000m at the Paris Olympics, underlining her status as one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time.