Farah nets his first world best with hour record in Brussels
● Briton eclipses Gebrselassie’s time ● UK gold medal for Law in discus
Sir Mo Farah set the first world record of his illustrious career in the Diamond League meeting in Brussels last night.
Farah covered 21.330 kilometres in an hour to break the previous record of 21.285km ( 1 3.255 miles) set by Haile Gebrselassie in 2007.
The 37- year- old was around 10 metres behind record pace at the halfway stage but gradually increased the tempo after the pacemaker made way and was ahead of schedule when Belgium’s Bashir Abdi took over the lead with five minutes remaining.
Farah powered back in front with a minute to go and was so focused that he appeared not to realise when the hour was up and kept running before being told he could stop.
I n an on- t rack i nter view Farah said: “That’s incredible. I’m very happy to break the world record today.
“Me and Bashir Abdi worked together. I’m so pleased for him and for myself and what an amazing way to do it and s h ow t h e p e o p l e what i s possible.
“I feel tired but at the same time in the middle part of the race we had to work hard. I wasn’t sure what we were doing and had to help each other and get through it and it’s nice to break a world record.”
Ther e was a l s o a worl d record in the women’s event as the Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan set a new best of 18.93km.
Hassan outsprinted Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei in the closing stages, although Kosgei was later disqualified for stepping off the track.
World heptathlon champ i o n K a t a r i n a J o h n s o n - Thompson finished fourth in the 100 metre hurdles in a time of 13.57s and sixth in the high jump with a clearance of 1.84m.
At the British Championships in Manchester, Hannah Cockroft claimed gold in the 400 metres wheelchair race.
The five - time Paralympic champion posted a time of one minute 0.19 seconds as she crossed the line first at Manchester Regional Arena, with Scotland’s Sammi King
horn, pictured, finishing second and her compatriot Mel Woods claiming bronze with a personal best time of 1: 02.90.
On a good night for the Scots Kirst y Law became British discus champion with a throw of 57.95 metres.
In the sprints, Harr y Aikines- Aryeetey claimed his first Briti sh t i t l e at t he 1 2th attempt as he won the men’s 100m race, registering a season’s best time of 10.35 seconds. Last year’s champion Ojie Edoburun was second in 10.43, with Tommy Ramdhan third in 10.44.
With Dina Asher- Smith not involved, it was Imani Lansiquot who took the women’s
100m title. Lansiquot’s time was 11.26 secs as she crossed the finish line ahead of Kristal Awuah and Amy Hunt.
Jazmin Sawyers triumphed in the long jump, with Manchester’s defending champion Abigail I rozuru coming second.
E u r o p e a n s i l v e r medall i s t S awyer s jumped 6.69m as she reclaimed a t i t l e she also won in 2016. Cindy Ofili, who came fourth in the 100m hurdles at the Rio 2016 Olympics, retained her British title as she edged out 17- year- old Lucy- Jane Matthews. Ofili crossed the line in 13.16, four hundredths of a second ahead of Matthews.