Abdel Laadjel sets new Irish 5000m Under-20 indoor record in Chicago

Abdel Laadjel set a new Irish 5000m Under-20 indoor record while racing for Providence University at the Big East Meet on Friday in Chicago.

The Donor Harriers runner clocked a time of 14:12.73 to secure a seventh-place finish in the race. France's Simon Bedard was first over the line in a time of 13:43.04.

The previous Irish record had been held by Darragh McElhinney after he clocked 14.13.67 in 2019 at the Connacht Indoor Championships.

In December, Laaadjel was part of the Irish team that claimed the silver medal in the U20 event at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships at Abbotstown.

7th in my first Big East Indoors ✅ Cheeky Irish U20 Indoor 5000m record ☘️ ✅ Good solid race under the belt . Many more to come #GoFriars pic.twitter.com/MNqpV0T6Xy