Home > Runs & Races

Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma breaks indoor 3,000m world record

Girma averaged 2:28 per kilometre over 3,000m to break Daniel Komen's world record, which has stood for 25 years

Lamecha Girma Photo by: Kevin Morris

All eyes at the World Athletics Indoor Tour meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais in Lievin, France, were on Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the men’s 1,500m on Wednesday, but Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia stole the show in the men’s 3,000m, setting a new world record of 7:23.81. 

Girma smashed the 25-year-old indoor 3,000m record held by Kenya’s Daniel Komen (7:24.90) since 1998. Girma’s time was so fast that even his pacemakers couldn’t keep up, dropping out of the race one mile in. World 1,500m bronze medallist Mohamed Katir of Spain held to Girma’s heels until the final lap, falling off for second in a European record of 7:24.68 (now the second fastest time in history).

To put Girma’s time in perspective, his pace over the 3,000m was two minutes and 28 seconds per kilometre and 3:58 per mile. Girma went through 1,500m in 3:42 and through 2,000m in a mind-boggling four minutes and 55 seconds. 

The U.S. 5,000m and 10,000m record holder, Grant Fisher, finished fifth, with a new indoor 3,000m personal best of 7:35.82.

At the 2020 Olympics, Girma won the silver medal in the 3,000m steeplechase with an 8:10.38 clocking, behind only Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali in 8:08.90. He followed his Olympic performance with a 2022 World Indoor Championship silver medal in the 3,000m in Belgrade, Serbia, and another silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in his signature event, the 3,000m steeplechase.

Ingebrigtsen ended up setting a world lead and meeting record of 3:32.38 in the men’s 1,500m, but ultimately missed his indoor world record of 3:30.60.

Girma is also the Ethiopian national record holder in the 3,000m steeplechase and is listed as the 12th fastest of all time.

For full results from the World Athletics Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais in Lievin, check here.

Check out the latest buyer's guide:

The best trainers in Canada under $150

We curated the best performance trainers under $150 to meet your 2024 running goals, while staying on budget