Abdel Laadjel Breaks 10,000M Record (U20)

Abdel Laadjel (Donore Harriers) has broken Frank Greally’s U20 10,000M record which had stood for the last 52 years.

Laadjel was in action at the Raleigh Relays Meet in North Carolina where he clocked a 29:23.92 (34th) to break the long standing U20 record of 30:17.

Greally had set the record as a 19-year-old on a balmy August evening in 1970, lining up alongside an experienced field of athletes in Santry.

The record-breaking performance from Laadjel continues a remarkable last few months for the Donore athlete which has seen him also break Darragh McElhinney’s 5000m indoor record (U20) back in February.

The new double U20 record holder was a key member of the silver- medal winning team who performed superbly at the 2021 European Cross Country Championships in Dublin last December.

Laadjel was joined in the race in North Carolina by a trio of Irish athletes who ran blistering races.  Barry Keane (Waterford AC) clocked a 28:15.60 to finish in second place, less than 2 seconds off the winner. Brian Fay of Raheny continues his brilliant form a with a 28:22.31, while Fearghal Curtin (Youghal AC) crossed in 28:25.43.

Full Result: Click HERE