Jimmy Gressier sets a new European record in 5km run

French track and field athlete Jimmy Gressier broke his own European record in the 5km run in Lille yesterday. Jimmy Gressier previously held the continental record with Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu of 13:12 min, but the 27-year-old French middle-distance runner is now the first European to run under 13 minutes in the road race. His 12:57 time also moves him up to fifth in the all-time world rankings.

Uruguayan athlete Santiago Catrofe finished second in Lille, also in 12:57 min, while Jimmy Gressier’s teammate Ian Shrub was third in 13:10.

This marks Jimmy Gressier’s second European record of the season, following his remarkable achievement of breaking the continental 5,000m record in Boston last month with a time of 12:54.92 min. That race was won by Grant Fisher, who set a world record of 12:44.09.

Jimmy Gressier chose to forgo participation in the European Athletics Indoor Championships held in Apeldoorn last weekend; however, he is anticipated to resume his team responsibilities in the 10km event at the inaugural European Running Championships in Brussels-Leuven on April 12-13.