Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay Runs 3:53.09 To Smash World Indoor Record In 1,500 Meters, Holloway Lowers American Record In Hurdles to 7.32

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Photo courtesy Katami Michelle

Some of the best track and field athletes in the world are showing Olympic Games readiness in early February of 2021. 

After overcoming the challenges of the pandemic, athletes are seizing on opportunities to show what they can do. At the World Indoor Tour stop in Lievin, France, Gudaf Tsegay's achievement stood above a half dozen incredible performances. 

Tsegay, 24, stripped more than two seconds from Genzebe Dibaba's 2014 indoor record of 3:55.17 with her stunning result Tuesday by clocking 3:53.09. 

Grant Holloway's pursuit of the world record in the men's 60-meter hurdles continued, as he trimmed his own American record from 7.35 to 7:32 in the final after running 7.38 earlier in a prelim. The number he is chasing is 7.30 by the U.K.'s Colin Jackson, a world record that has endured since 1994. 

Further development's in Tuesday's distance races were also jaw-dropping. 

Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway dusted an A-list field in the men's 1,500 meters and ran a European record 3:31.80 to move to No. 5 on the all-time world list. 

In the women's 3,000 meters, Ethiopia's Lemiem Hailu edged world champion Sifan Hassan, 8:32.55 to 8:33.62. 

In the men's 3,000 meters, an unprecedented four finishers dipped under 7:30, led by the No. 4 all-time effort by Getnet Wale of Ethiopia, who ran 7:24.98. Daniel Komen's 1998 world record is 7:24.90.