Ethiopian star Yomif Kejelcha broke a 22-year-old indoor world record in the mile on Sunday, clocking 3 minutes, 47:01 seconds at an invitational meet in Boston, ESPNSports reports.
The 21-year-old Kejelcha, who fell 0.008 seconds short of the mile record at the Millrose Games in New York last month, shaved 1.44 off the old mark of 3:48.45 set by Moroccan great Hicham El Guerrouj in 1997.
Kejelcha had said before the meet that he was also aiming to break the record time for the 1,500 meters of 3:31.04 that fellow Ethiopian Samuel Tefera set last month at the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix, but he came up short at 3.31.25.
Kejelcha spoke about his desire to break El Guerrouj’s mile record leading up to the Millrose Games. He said he looked up at the video screen after crossing the finish line that night and realized immediately he had not broken the mark.
“I came very close to it, and I know I’m going to try to get it,” Kejelcha said. “I think I can break it.”
El Guerrouj still holds the outdoor world record of 3:26.00, set in 1998.
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