Wanders claims latest record in Monaco 5km

PARIS: Switzerland’s Julien Wanders added another record to his growing collection with a world best 5 kilometre time in Monaco yesterday. Wanders, the 22-year-old European record holder for the 10km and half marathon, clocked 13 min 29sec, while Sifan Hassan also set a new world best time in the women’s race.

Ethiopian-born Hassan of the Netherlands who also holds the European half marathon record, clocked 14min 44sec. Wanders turned up in Monaco just nine days after smashing Farah’s halfmarathon benchmark by 21sec with a time of 59:13 in Ras Al Khaimah.

He finished fourth in that race in the United Arab Emirates behind Fikadu Haftu of Ethiopia. Last October the Swiss runner showed his potential when clipping 12sec off Farah’s eight-year European 10km record with a 27:32 effort when finishing second in Durban.

In December he bettered Durban when clocking 27:25 to win in Houilles, France. “I got two European records and now a world record, my first one, so it’s amazing,” the Kenyan-based Wanders said.

“I was confident,” he added. “The only thing was I got flu three days ago so it was a challenge for me, I was not sure.” Wanders now changes his focus to the track. “I hope to do well in Doha (at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in September-October) in the 5,000m and 10,000m.