Middle-distance runner Andreas Almgren's previous Swedish record in the 3,000 meters (7:39.44) only stood for just over six months. At the Diamond League premiere in Doha, Qatar, he showed brilliant form and erased that record by a wide margin.
The new Swedish record time is 7:37,05 and that was enough for a seventh place in the high-class race.
"It's in May that I'm going to screw it up properly. So that I am already at these levels in quite windy conditions, it bodes well, says Almgren and continues:
"It wasn't a completely problem-free race either. I was about to fall halfway through the race when there were some spikes and stuff. I am very pleased with the effort.
The winner was Ethiopian Lamecha Girma. His winning time of 7:26,18 is both a world best and the best ever done at a DL gala in Doha.
Second and third were Girma's compatriots Selemon Barega and Berihu Aregawi.