Wanders, Hassan set world records

LONDON, Feb 17, (RTRS): Julien Wanders and Sifan Hassan won the inaugural 5 kilometre Herculis in Monaco on Sunday and in doing so claimed the official male and female world records respectively.

The distance has only been recognised as a world record event by the governing IAAF since January last year with previous faster times described as ‘unofficial world bests’.

Fresh from taking the European half marathon record from Mo Farah last week, Swiss Wanders’ time of 13:29 bettered the former world record by a second.

The 22-year-old now holds the 5km world record, and the European record for 10km and half marathon.

Dutch Hassan crossed the finish line in a time of 14:44, beating the previous best set by American Sarah Pagano at 15:48.

The record continues to build Hassan’s profile on the circuit after already holding the European Records on the 5,000m and half marathon. for JRM, a competitive Xfinity Series team, to when the late Dale Earnhardt gave Michael Waltrip a ride in 2001.

It was Waltrip’s first ride in a car capable of winning and he ended an 462-losing streak by winning the Daytona 500 in his debut race for Dale Earnhardt Inc.

“It reminds me of an Earnhardt giving a Michael a chance years ago to show his potential,” Earnhardt Jr said about Annett’s victory.

Annett followed Austin Hill, winner of the Truck Series opener, and Harrison Burton, winner of the ARCA opener, as firsttime winners this week. The Daytona 500 is Sunday.

Allgaier finished second for a

Michael Annett celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, on Feb 16, in

Daytona Beach, Florida. (AP)

1-2 Chevrolet finish but didn’t have an opportunity to pass Annett for the lead. The racing was largely single-file and strung out, the opposite of Friday night’s crash-marred Truck Series race.

Drivers on Saturday found it difficult to mount a passing attempt so they mostly stayed in line.

“I was disappointed I couldn’t make a run but a great way to start the season, come out of here second with some points,” said Allgaier, who praised Annett for earning the victory.

“He has tried so hard and the effort and time he’s put in into it.”

Brandon Jones was third in Toyota’s debut of the Supra in the Xfinity Series.

Ryan Sieg was fourth in a Chevrolet, followed by Austin Cindric in a Ford for Team Penske.

Annett has longtime sponsorship from Pilot Flying J and has taken it to various teams trying to find a competitive ride.

He ran three full seasons in the Cup Series but didn’t score a single top-10 finish in 109 career starts. So Annett in 2017 stepped down to the Xfinity Series and spent the last two years driving for JR Motorsports.

“This is amazing – eight years in the series,” Annett said while crediting his team for sticking with him “through the hard times when everyone counts me out. Our slogan this year is ‘One team, one dream, one goal.’”

Earnhardt Jr credited crew chief Travis Mack with guiding Annett’s team. Mack had previously worked at Hendrick Motorsports but moved to a crew chief job at Leavine Family Racing that lasted just aa few months last season. When Mack became available, JRM grabbed him.

“I knew I needed him here with Michael Annett. That combination would be great - so we’re seeing the results of that,” Earnhardt said. “I’m extremely happy for Travis Mack. It’s been a tough road for him, equally tough road for Michael Annett. It’s been a day of redemption for both of those guys.”

Jeffrey Earnhardt led 29 laps and finished 15th in his debut for Joe Gibbs Racing. Jeffrey Earnhardt has taken a new approach to his career and has decided to run a partial scheduled with a winning team rather than a full year with a smaller team.

Jeffrey Earnhardt raced with a tribute helmet to his grandfather, the late Earnhardt Sr, that showed a shirtless Earnhardt Sr on a horse. He said his lack of experience leading races played a factor Saturday.

“Just lack of experience. I’ll get better at it,” Jeffrey Earnhardt said. “This was the first time to actually get to race upfront like that. It was a lot of fun. Hopefully we continue to grow this program and grow myself as a driver.

We won’t let them get away from us anymore.”