Mohammed Ahmed breaks national 5,000m record

It was a prefect finish to a strong first professional season for Mohammed Ahmed.

In the final Diamond League meet of the year, the St. Catharines, Ont.,-native capitalized on a breakout season, bettering the 17-year-old national 5,000m record.

Ahmed ran 13:10.00 to finished 12th in a very fast race in Brussels, bettering the previous mark by just over three seconds. The old record was held by Jeff Schiebler. The race was won by Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia in 12:53.98, among the quickest times in recent years.

Ahmed, who has represented Canada at two world championships and the 2012 Olympics, had a strong professional season, winning the Pan Am Games 10,000m in Toronto and qualifying for the 5,000m final at worlds last month.

Since graduating from the University of Wisconsin—Madison, Ahmed has been training in Oregon with the Bowerman Track Club as a professional athlete.

The meet was the final in the Diamond League series and brings the professional track and field season to a close.