Charles Philibert-Thiboutot sets North American 2,000m record at Brussels Diamond League

It was a record-breaking night at the Brussels Diamond League on Friday, and Quebec’s Charles Philibert-Thiboutot was one of seven men to set a national record in the seldom-run 2,000m distance. Philibert-Thiboutot finished eighth in 4:51.54, breaking his previous Canadian record by five seconds and setting a North American area record in the distance.

Heading into the 2,000m race at Brussels Diamond League, all eyes were on Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who said he was there to challenge Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco’s world record of 4:44.79. Ingebrigtsen was paced by WaveLight technology and pacers for three laps, coming through one mile just shy of his personal best in 3:48.13. He closed his final 400m in 55 seconds to break El Guerrouj’s world record by over a second.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen breaks world record in 2,000m at Brussels Diamond League

The men behind Ingebrigtsen held onto the fast pacing in single file and were rewarded with six national records and two area records. Kenya’s Reynold Cheruiyot finished second, in a national record for Kenya of 4:48.14. Australia’s Stewart McSweyn was third, in an Oceania area record of 4:48.77. National records were also set by Niels Laros of the Netherlands, Mario García of Spain and Ruben Verheyden of Belgium.

Philibert-Thiboutot has had a breakout season in his eighth season as a pro. He has set personal bests for 1,500m, 5K (road) and now 2,000m in a six-month span. The Canadian record he broke by five seconds was his own from last year, where he was paced by his training partners Jean-Simon Desgagnés and Thomas Fafard in Quebec City. His new 2,000m best also broke the long-standing North American 2,000m record of 4:52.44 held by Jim Spivey since 1987.

The 32-year-old’s season isn’t done yet. He is on the start list for the famous NYC 5th Avenue Mile in New York City on Sunday, where he will test his speed against 1,500m world champion Josh Kerr in the road mile.

Season’s bests for De Grasse and Brown

It’s been two years since Canada’s Andre De Grasse last ran under 20 seconds for 200m, but on Friday night in Brussels, he stopped the clock at season’s best 19.89 to finish third in the men’s 200m. Toronto’s Aaron Brown also shattered the 20-second barrier for the first time this season, finishing fourth behind De Grasse in 19.98, only three-one-hundredths of a second off his personal best of 19.95 from 2019.

De Grasse said his goal heading into his final races of the season was to set a season’s best for momentum into next year. His best heading into Brussels was 20.01 from Canadian Nationals in July, but the warm conditions and lack of wind made for fast times in the sprint events.

For Brown, his 19.98 clocking is his fastest time in four years. It has been a tough couple of weeks for Brown, who went 0-for-2 in reaching finals at worlds in the 200m and 4x100m relay. Brown was disqualified from the 200m semi-final after a lane infraction on the bend. Then, after a tough showing at Diamond League Zurich, Brown was confident that his best was still to come, and he made that apparent in Brussels, placing fourth and equalling the third-fastest time of his career.

Brown and De Grasse will both head to Eugene, Ore., next week for the Diamond League final. Here are the full results from Brussels Diamond League.