Abdel Laadjel breaks 52-year-old national athletics record

Laadjel smashed a record set by Frank Greally in August 1970

Abdel Laadjel competes in the U20 Men's 6000m final during the SPAR European Cross Country Championships 

Rising Irish star, Abdel Laadjel, (Donore Harriers) has broken the 52-year-old national U20 10,000m record.

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

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

The record-breaking performance from Laadjel continues a remarkable last few months for the Donore athlete who broke Darragh McElhinney’s 5000m indoor record (U20) in February.

Laadjel was a member of the silver-medal winning team at the 2021 European Cross Country Championships in Dublin last December. Laadjel was joined in the race in North Carolina by Barry Keane (Waterford AC) who clocked a 28:15.60 to finish in second place, less than 2 seconds off the race winner. Brian Fay of Raheny continued his brilliant form a with a 28:22.31, while Fearghal Curtin (Youghal AC) crossed in 28:25.43.