Eight world leads, European 5000m record for Farah in Birmingham

There was no World record for Abubaker Kaki in the men’s 1000m but his 2:17.76 was one of eight world leads at the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham on an afternoon of pulsating athletics that climaxed with a European 5000m record by the indomitable Mo Farah.

Those were just two of five brilliant distance performances at the IAAF Indoor Permit meeting, which also included the top men’s and women’s 1500m of the year from Augustine Choge and Abeba Aregawi, and a superb women’s 3000m from Sentayehu Ejigu.

Choge won a thrilling 1500m from Derese Mekonnen in 3:33.23, Aregawi front ran to 4:03.28, and Ejigu ran away from a high class field with half the race still to go to clock 8:30.26.

There was also some impressive sprinting with world leads for Bianca Knight in the women’s 200m, for Michael Rodgers, who matched Kim Collins 6.50 in the men’s 60m, and for Sebastian Ernst who recorded an equal world lead in the men’s 200m.

There was also a near world best for Felix Sanchez who won an eventful 400m hurdles in 49.76.

(Photo by Jane Monti - from Race Results Weekly)

IAAF website