Impossible Not in Norway with World and European Records!

The track and field season burst open in Norway with Karsten Warholm settting a wonderful world record in the 300m hurdles as world class athletics exploded from lockdown at the Impossible Games in Norway, as reported on the BBC.  

24 year old Warholm, took 0.70 seconds off the mark set by Britain's Chris Rawlinson in 2002, with a solo 33.78 in Oslo.

In front of stands filled with cardboard cut-outs, socially-distanced entertainers and officials, more Norwegian talent in Jakob Ingebrigtsen was in top form (pictured on the inside lane here). He won a tremendous 2,000m race rich in world talent at the iconic  Bislett Stadium and run in parallel with a team from Kenya doing their 2000m in Nairobi.

The contest was billed as a team event, with world 1500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot leading a Kenyan quintet that also included his predecessor as world champion Elijah Manangoi.

As the split-screen video link showed wind and rain lashing the track in high-altitude Nairobi, it was clear Team Norway and the Ingebrigtsen’s  had a distinct advantage.

Jakob, 19, finished in a time of 4:50.01 to erase, BBC commentator Steve Cram's 1985 European record and was followed home by older siblings Henrik and Filip to secure a comprehensive win.

With many athletes unable to travel, the event was set up as a Diamond League exhibition to replace the Bislett Games.

World record race on this BBC link

"This has been a special and important occasion because it's athletics back at the highest level," said BBC commentator Cram.

Later in the evening, there was a European record for Sondre Moen in the 25,000m. The Norwegian, who had been due to run the London Marathon, passed 10km in 28:37, and went through 20km in 57:55. His time of 1:12:46.5 was well under the previous best of 1:13:57.6, set in 1999 by Germany’s Stephane Franke. 

Athletics' next big event is the Inspiration Games on 9 July in Zurich, a more ambitious attempt to work around the limitations of coronavirus restrictions that involves 30 athletes competing in eight disciplines across seven stadiums.