BRUSSELS - Britain's Mo Farah broke the world record for a one-hour run by completing a distance of 21,330 metres at the Brussels Diamond League athletics meeting on Friday.
The 37-year-old eclipsed the previous record of 21,285 metres set by Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie 13 years ago.
Earlier this week, Gebrselassie said this of Farah’s attempt to break the Ethiopean’s long-standing world mark:
“The record, I think is not so difficult,” said Gebrselassie. “I think Mo wants the record and he will get it.”
There's just under 15 minutes left on the clock ⏳@Mo_Farah and @BashirAbdi7 are neck and neck and just ahead of @HaileGebr's hologram (in Wavelight form) world record pace.
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) September 4, 2020
The mark to remember is 21,285m. It looks like we might be in for another thrilling sprint finish. pic.twitter.com/hNygFlQjSQ
🚨WORLD RECORD🚨
— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) September 4, 2020
Mo #Farah sets a new WR of 21.330km in the One Hour. #BrusselsDL pic.twitter.com/kPyYTNLReh
Earlier on Friday, Sifan Hassan, of the Netherlands, smashed the world record for the women's one-hour race by more than a lap when she ran 18,930 metres during the Brussels Diamond League meeting on Friday.
The Ethiopian-born athlete, who won gold in the 1500 and 10,000 metres at the world championships last year, ran 413 metres -- more than one whole lap -- further than the previous record of 18,517, set by Ethiopian Dire Tune in 2008.
🇳![CDATA[]]>🇱 @SifanHassan breaks world one-hour record with 18,930m at @MVDbrussels!
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) September 4, 2020
After running shoulder to shoulder with Brigid Kosgei for most of the race, she betters the existing record by 413m thanks to an incredible final sprint. pic.twitter.com/iXlK9vZSyP
Two hours. Two world records.#BrusselsDL
— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) September 4, 2020
📷@TomasSisk pic.twitter.com/zoUBlCcsC4
Reuters