Indian athlete Avinash Sable raised the bar once again, this time in 5000m.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist in 3000m steeplechase improved on his national record in 5000m race as he clocked 13:19.30 at the On Track Fest in Hilmer Lodge in California, USA.
Last year, he had breached Bahadur Prasad’s 5000m record set in 1965 by completing the race, also in California, in 13:25.65.
The 5000m is not even his pet event. Sable, a Naib Subedar in the Mahar Regiment of Indian Army, primarily participates in the 3000m steeplechase.
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, he became the first athlete from outside Kenya to win a steeplechase medal in 28 years. Sable dashed past two Kenyans in the last-minute of the race to earn a silver with a national record timing of 8:11.20. It was the ninth time he had bettered the national record.
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What did Sable say about his new 5000m national record?
"I have been training in the United States since April, and I would say that this training has really benefitted me," Sable said.
"Every day I set a new target and aim to achieve it. My next target is to qualify for the World Championships, and I am confident that I will do it. My next competition is on the 19th of May, and I want to improve my performance."
Along with Sable, Parul Chaudhary also set a new national mark in women's 5000m.
At the On Track Fest in Hilmer Lodge in California, USA, she registered a time of 15:10.35 to break the national record of 15:15.89, set by Preeja Sreedharan at the 2010 Asian Games.
Her previous best in the 5000m event was 15:36.03 at the Asian Athletics championship in Doha in 2019.
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