The Irish teenager is one second off Andy Butchart’s record from last year
Andy Butchart’s reign as parkrun world record holder came to an end on Saturday (November 9) when Nick Griggs bettered his time by one second at Belfast’s Victoria Park.
Griggs clocked 13:44, just shy of her 5km personal best of 13:39, which she clocked at the Podium 5k Festival in March.
after Ciara Magea ran 15:13 At Victoria Park last December, it means that Irish athletes now have the fastest running times in the men’s and women’s categories.
Parkrun does not classify times as world records or bests, the organization describes its events as “runs not races”.
Nick Griggs (Getty)
“I wasn’t going to set a record” Griggs told BBC Radio Ulster.
“Before the race I knew I was in good shape and I knew I should have a chance to break the record. It was a bit of a sprint finish but it felt good.
“I don’t think anyone really knew until we finished. I looked at my watch for a second. I didn’t really think about it, to be honest. and there was a bit of a buzz about it.”
Nick Griggs (Getty)
Griggs, who is the European under-20 3000m champion and silver medalist, used the bag to prepare for the Irish Cross Country Championships in Enniskillen on November 17.
The 19-year-old hopes to qualify for next month’s European Cross Country Championships in Turkey.
READ MORE. Andy Butchart has a “world record” in sacks
In last year’s under-20 race in Brussels, he won the bronze medal behind Denmark’s Axel Wang Christensen and Netherlands’ Niels Laros.
Griggs also represented Ireland on the world stage, finishing 12th in his 1500m at the recent World Championships in Budapest.
READ MORE. Coverage of the Cardiff Cross Challenge
The Irishman boasts personal bests of 3:35.04, 7:36.59 and 13:13.07 in the 1500m, 3000m and 5000m.
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