Karsten Warholm lit up the Bislett Games with a commanding performance in the rarely-contested 300m hurdles, clocking a world best of 32.67 to thrill a sold-out home crowd in Oslo on Thursday (12) night.
The reigning European and world champion powered away from a world-class field that included Olympic champion Rai Benjamin and Olympic bronze medallist Alison dos Santos.
Warholm’s blistering run eclipsed his previous best of 33.05 set in Xiamen earlier this season and set the tone for what could be another world beating campaign for the Norwegian who is aiming to win a fourth title at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
"I never really went away of course but it is good to be back for sure. The race went well although I was rather worried with how much Rai [Benjamin] was closing on me but I knew I could push on over the last hurdle to home. I usually fade at the end of the 400m so the 300m suits me to some degree but I will be back strong in the 400m on Sunday," said Warholm.
He celebrated in typically passionate style, tearing off his vest and roaring to the home fans as the stadium erupted for their home grown hero.
The trio will be quick to renew their rivalry over the full 400m hurdles distance at the next Diamond League meeting in Stockholm on Sunday.
6.15m for Duplantis in the pole vault
Sweden's Armand Duplantis was also victorious in the men's pole vault with a meeting record of 6.15m, a height only Duplantis himself and Renaud Lavillenie have ever surpassed.
The Swede's victory was never in doubt, clearing 5.92m, 6.03m, and 6.15m before taking one unsuccessful attempt at 6.22m.
"I am very satisfied; to get a stadium record here was in my plans after a few visits here with difficult conditions it was great to finally get the right conditions tonight. It did get cooler so that was why I stopped jumping," said Duplantis.
Duplantis will head to Stockholm on Sunday when conditions — and the crowd — may tempt him to raise the bar even higher.
Breakthrough mile victory for Nader
There was Dream Mile delight for Portugal’s European indoor 1500m bronze medallist Isaac Nader, who claimed a historic victory alongside a national record.
Nader produced the race of his life, surging clear in the final 200 metres from a tightly contested pack to claim victory in a national record of 3:48.25.
Australian teen talent Cameron Myers took second in 3:48.87 with the Netherlands’ European U23 champion Stefan Nillessen, who is eligible to defend his title in Bergen next month, rounding out the top three in 3:49.02.
Germany's Robert Farken also raced sublimely and added to the list of national records with his own 3:49.12 to finish fifth.
And it was a near-European record from Great Britain’s George Mills who finished fourth in the 5000m. He clocked 12:46.59 to break Mo Farah’s long-standing British record in the 5000m of 12:53.10 and moves to second on the European all-time list.