World 10,000m champion Jimmy Gressier broke the French 3000m record at the Meeting de Montreuil, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meeting, on Wednesday (17) evening.
Gressier stopped the clock at 7:28.67 to eclipse Yann Schrub’s previous national record of 7:29.38 which was set indoors in Metz this February. He also moves into the European all-time top-10 which is headed by Jakob Ingebrigten’s world record of 7:17.55.
In what was essentially a time trial with two pacemakers for assistance, Gressier won by over 15 seconds from South Africa’s Maxime Chaumeton in 7:44.08.
Gressier’s next race is likely to be over 5000m in the Paris Diamond League on 28 June as he continues his build-up to the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham from 10-16 August.
Other highlights included a fast women's 800m which was won by Germany's Smilla Kolbe in 1:58.99 ahead of European indoor 1500m champion Agathe Guillemot in 1:59.05, lifetime bests for both, and Clemence Beretta won the 5000m race walk in a national record of 20:55.22.
European all-time 3000m list
7:17.55 – Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) – 2024
7:24.68i – Mohamed Katir (ESP) – 2023
7:25.77 – Mohamed Abdilaahi (GER) – 2026
7:26.48 – Andreas Almgren (SWE) – 2026
7:26.62 – Mohammed Mourhit (BEL) – 2000
7:27.68 – Dominic Lobalu (SUI) – 2024
7:27.92i – George Mills (GBR) – 2025
7:28.67 - Jimmy Gressier (FRA) - 2026
7:29.34 – Isaac Viciosa (ESP) – 1998
7:29.38i – Yann Schrub (FRA) – 2026