Steeplechase runner George Beamish will compete in his first Olympics next month. Photo: Photosport
New Zealand runner George Beamish is in good form just a couple of weeks out from the Paris Olympics.
Beamish smashed the national record while finishing fifth in the 3000m steeplechase at the Paris Diamond League meeting.
He took almost four seconds off his own national record, with a time of eight minutes 13.26 seconds.
He was almost seven seconds behind the winner, Abrham Sime of Ethiopia.
Beamish is preparing for his first Olympics after taking New Zealand athletics by storm in recent years, with multiple national records and a gold medal in the 1500m at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow in March.
He was eligible to be selected in the 3000m steeplechase, 1500m and 5000m at the Olympics, but because of scheduling he was selected only for the steeplechase.
Beamish, the national record holder in the event, will become the first New Zealand steeplechaser at an Olympic Games in 40 years.
The first round of the steeplechase in Paris is on 5 August with the final on 7 August.
The Diamond League meeting featured two new world records.
Double Olympic gold medallist Faith Kipyegon improved her own women's 1500m record by clocking 3:49.04 in the final race of the Paris Diamond League on Sunday.
The Kenyan broke her previous world mark of 3:49.11 that she set last June in Florence.
Australian Jessica Hull came in second at 3:50.83 with a personal best that set an Oceanic 1500m record.
Ukraine's Yaroslava Mahuchikh set a new world record in the women's high jump, clearing 2.10 metres to break a mark that has stood since 1987.
However, the 22-year-old world champion brushed off suggestions that the jump had made her the clear favourite for the Paris Olympics.
"I am looking forward to the Olympic Games here. I am sure it will be a great competition with an even better atmosphere, but I know it will be hard and very competitive," she said.
The Ukrainian outperformed the world indoor champion, Australia's Nicola Olyslagers, with both competitors clearing the 2.01m height on their second attempts.
- RNZ Sport/Reuters