Birmingham: Ethiopian teenager Samuel Tefera broke a 22-year-old indoor world record (WR) in the 1,500 meters here Saturday evening, clocking 3 minutes, 31.04 seconds at the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix event.
The 19-year-old Tefera, who won the indoor world title in the distance here last year, went past countryman Yomif Kejelcha as the duo entered the final bend, and had the stronger finish to win by 0.54 seconds. He shaved 0.14 seconds off the old mark of 3:31.18s set by Moroccan great Hicham El Guerrouj in February 1997.
“I can’t believe that,” Tefera said. “I’m delighted with the outcome and to have the world record is a special feeling.”
El Guerrouj still holds the outdoor world record of 3:26.00s, set in 1998.
AP