Bouzayani broke the competition record in the 3000 meters hurdles

Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani obliterated the meeting record with an exhibition of distance running in the women’s 3000m steeplechase.

Fourth in the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last year, she went hard from the gun and left even the wave lights in her wake as she ran solo to a superb 8:59.28.

It is the first ever sub nine-minute run in the discipline at the stadium and slashed more than five seconds from the previous meeting record of 9:04:34 held by Kenya’s Hyvin Kiyeng since 2021.

“I feel very happy about the race today, a meeting record and the third time under 9 minutes this season,” said the Tunisian afterwards.

British runner Elise Thorner was a distant second in 9:11.01 and Gabrielle Jennings of USA was third in 9:12:02.

El Bakkali showed master class in men’s 3000m hurdles

n the men’s race, twice Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco proved his race acumen, burning off the opposition in the closing lap to win in 8:10:40.

World bronze medallist Edmund Serem of Kenya was second in 8:12.27 and Olympic bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwot was third in 8:12.75.