Kieran Lumb breaks Canadian 3K record (again)

Vancouver’s Kieran Lumb has had quite the week. In the last seven days, he has lowered his 3,000-metre personal best by seven seconds, setting two national records in the process.

On Sept. 6 in Rovereto, Italy, Lumb earned his first Canadian record, placing third in the men’s 3,000m in 7:38.92, breaking Moh Ahmed’s previous record of 7:40.49. In his final track event of the season on Sunday, Lumb doubled down, breaking his record by two seconds at the Hanžeković Memorial (Continental Tour Gold meet) in Zagreb, Croatia, in 7:36.46.

The 25-year-old said he wanted to go into Sunday’s race and leave everything on the table—and that’s just what he did. Lumb placed sixth in a deep field of 16 runners, where six national records were set. He sat in the middle of the pack for the majority of the race but positioned himself well in the final kilometre for a personal best.

Last month, Lumb represented Team Canada for the first time at a world championship. He did not advance out of the heats of the men’s 1,500m, but decided to stay in Europe and continue his season. “With the late-season racing, there’s nothing to lose,” Lumb said in an interview. “I have been in personal best shape all season, but in Budapest, I did not have a chance to show it.”

Team Canada announced for World Athletics Road Running Championships

Although the 2023 track season in Europe has come to an end, Lumb was selected by Athletics Canada for the inaugural World Athletics Road-Running Championships in Riga, Latvia, later this month. Lumb will compete in the men’s mile.