Weekend recap: Canadians shine in NYC, Chepkoech breaks 5K world record

It’s only February, but the running world has already been treated to so many thrilling races and performances this year. Runners from around the world continue to take advantage of in-person competitions, smashing national, area and world records every weekend. This past weekend was no different, and it saw multiple record-breaking runs. The New Balance Grand Prix attracted top Canadian and American athletes, the Monaco Run 5K saw a world record from Beatrice Chepkoech and Gudaf Tsegay ran her second historic result in a matter of days. With those results and more, here is the weekend recap.

Canadians in NYC

Seven Canadians competed at the New Balance Grand Prix in New York City on Saturday. Julie-Anne Staehli ran to a third-place finish in the two-mile race, smashing the Canadian record in the process with a final time of 9:22.66. She beat Jessica O’Connell‘s previous national best by 14 seconds. Staehli came extremely close to grabbing the Canadian 3,000m record (which also belongs to O’Connell) of 8:46.50 as well, passing through 3K in 8:47.73.

What a day for ?? at the @NBIndoorGP @jastaehli (2Mile NR & 3000m) and @marco_arop (1000m) continuing where they left off in 2020! Clocking 8:47.73 and 2:17.10 respectively, both under a second from @AthleticsCanada records held by @jess__oconnell and Nate Brennan pic.twitter.com/fD7gqHhOKg

— Jonathan Yue (@jonathanyue20) February 13, 2021

Justyn Knight and Marco Arop also had huge races in NYC. Knight took the win in the men’s two-mile, running 8:13.92, which is a world-leading time and less than a second off Mohammed Ahmed‘s Canadian record of 8:13.16. Arop finished in second in the 1,000m, also running within a second of a national record. He crossed the line in 2:17.10, just off Nate Brannen‘s Canadian record of 2:16.87.

RELATED: Julie-Anne Staehli leads Canadians with national record at New Balance Grand Prix

A record-breaking NB Grand Prix

The NB Grand Prix was the biggest meet of the season so far. It produced a whopping seven world-leading times and 11 national records. Like the Canadian contingent, the American athletes competing this weekend put on quite a show. Donavan Brazier broke his own national indoor 800m record, running 1:44.21 and beating his PB by 0.01 seconds.

??? AMERICAN RECORD ???@DonavanBrazier broke his own indoor 800m American record* clocking 1:44.21 to take .01 off the mark he set last year. That time puts him in a tie for No. 4 on the all-time world performer list! @NBIndoorGP

*Pending ratification pic.twitter.com/48kcpxwYOW

— USATF (@usatf) February 13, 2021

Bryce Hoppel beat Arop in the 1,000m, taking the win in an American record and world-leading time of 2:16.27. In the women’s two-mile, Elle Purrier powered ahead of Staehli and Emma Coburn to the win in 9:10.28, also posting an American record and world lead. For full results from the NB Grand Prix, click here.

RELATED: Beatrice Chepkoech runs 14:43, breaks 5K world record in Monaco

Chepkoech’s world record

On Sunday in Monaco, Chepkoech ran to the 5K world record, posting an amazing time of 14:43 to better Sifan Hassan‘s previous mark by one second. This is the second world record of Chepkoech’s career, joining her 3,000m steeplechase PB of 8:44.32. She dominated the rest of the small elite women’s field, beating the second-place runner by more than a minute. On the men’s side, Joshua Cheptegei took the win in 13:14, failing to beat his own 5K world record of 12:51 (set at the same race in 2020).

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLRwTUeHdjh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Tsegay’s amazing week

On February 9, Tsegay set the world indoor 1,500m record at a meet in France, where she posted a time of 3:53.09. On Sunday, less than a week later, she was back in action at another French meet, this time in an 800m. She won the race, crossing the line in 1:57.52 and setting the Ethiopian indoor 800m record. Within the span of a few days, Tsegay set a world record and a national record, and now many eyes are on her as she moves toward the Tokyo Games.

RELATED: Texas A&M freshman Athing Mu is becoming track’s next big star

Another record for Athing Mu

Athing Mu has been the story of 2021 so far. She has run three individual races this season and set a record in each one, she is undefeated this year (in both solo runs and relays) and she has produced some incredibly fast relay results for her Texas A&M team. On Friday, she wowed once again, this time with the help of her teammates in a 4 x 400m relay. Racing in Fayetteville, Ark., the Texas A&M women set the NCAA record in the 4 x 400m in a time of 3:26.27. This beat the four-year-old record of 3:27.03, which belonged to a foursome from USC. Her teammates performed well, but Mu carried them to the record, clocking a 50.27 final lap.