First athletics world record falls as athletes praise fast Olympic track

The purple track billed as the fastest in history already holds its first world record. On a day when Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei won the men’s 10,000m title with an Olympic record and Team GB’s Keely Hodgkinson and Josh Kerr made an almighty statement of intent, the US mixed 4x400m relay team smashed the old record by more than a second.

Jon Ridgeon, the chief executive of World Athletics, looked on and predicted more records would be broken over the next eight days. “The track is fast, very fast,” he said. “And the athletes are coming in superb form. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see four or five world records.”

Everyone was singing the same tune about the new Mondo track, which the Italian manufacturer reckons is 2% faster than the blazing-fast track designed for the Tokyo Olympics. “It’s super fast,” said Hodgkinson, after comfortably winning her 800m heat in 1min 59.31sec. “My legs were spinning and I was trying to slow down.”

“It’s a beautiful purple track – they don’t put us on slow tracks anymore,” added Dina Asher-Smith after qualifying for the semi-finals of the women’s 100 metres, finishing second in her heat in 11.01 seconds, despite barely reaching third gear.

And then came that mixed 4x400m world record. Granted, it’s probably the softest thing in the sport and most teams don’t pick their biggest stars. But the American team of Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon and Kaylyn Brown still made it look easy when they ran 3min 7.41sec.

The British mixed relay team of Sam Reardon, Laviai Nielsen, Alex Haydock-Wilson and Nicole Yeargin won the second heat with a time over three seconds slower, giving them confidence they can win a medal in Saturday’s final.

Mondo also claims to have developed a new mix for this Parisian course, which incorporates ‘bivalve molluscs, such as mussels and cockles’ into the resilient floor, making it more sustainable.

But the key to the speed, it says, are “elliptical geometric air cells, which allow the track to respond smoothly and dynamically to every step… significantly improving the absorption and return of exerted energy”.

According to reigning 1500m world champion Kerr, there is nothing suspicious about that claim. “The track was definitely fast,” he said. “The goal here was just to stay relaxed and be confident in my condition and I think I did that today.”

Kerr also said he was in a much better position than last year, which was a nice response after Olympic 1500m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen attacked him.

Asked about his big rivalry with Kerr, the Norwegian replied: “It’s hard to call him a rival when he’s never there. He’s known as the Brit who never competes. I try to participate in as many races as possible and entertain.”

Kerr’s ironic reaction after winning his heat in 3min 35.83sec? “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I have no problem with that and hopefully I will be remembered for something a little bit different.”

Ingebrigtsen also looked good in his heat, coming through in third place and when he spoke to journalists afterwards he wore a mask. When a British reporter asked him why, he joked: “Because you’re sick!”

There was also a whiff of London 2012 in the air as athletics opened at the Stade de France to a crowd of almost 69,000 for the morning and evening sessions, and a wall of noise for the home fans. It began with huge cheers for Bob Beamon, the 1968 Olympic long jump champion, who opened the newly unveiled track with three taps of his walking stick and barely let go after that.

The atmosphere was a welcome contrast to the 2016 Rio Games, which drew just a few thousand spectators to the 60,000-capacity venue on opening day. And of course the postponed Tokyo 2020 Games, which were held without an audience.

There were also loud cries of “Allez les Bleus” for every appearance by a French athlete and the mood was further enhanced by an in-house DJ on the track, complete with headphones and spinning decks, spinning music. However, the crowd was denied the chance to cheer on French decathlon world record holder Kevin Mayer, who withdrew shortly before the start due to injury.

They watched as the favourites for the women’s 100m, including American Sha’Carri Richardson, advanced with ease to the semi-finals. Britain’s Daryll Neita looked particularly good, qualifying second fastest in 10.92, behind Marie-Josée Ta Lou, who ran 10.87.

Nigeria’s Favour Ofili, with a personal best of 10.93, was not in sight. Her federation forgot to enter her, but her personal best of 10.93 would likely have qualified her for the final. “I worked four years to earn this opportunity. For what?” she said on social media. World Athletics later confirmed that she was only entered for the 200m and 4x100m.

In the evening, 17-year-old British Phoebe Gill impressed, as did Jemma Reekie, who qualified for the semi-finals of the women’s 800 metres. Gill ran 1:58.83 to take third place in her heat.

“It went really quickly,” said Gill. “I started to worry a little bit at 600m that I would have to do the repechage, but I’m glad I found it in my legs and qualified third.

“We’re in a different league now. I’m so used to being at the front of my races and not just worrying about the people behind me. With these professionals, you have to be able to adapt and be on your game all the time. I’m happy to have come third with this caliber of athletes.

“It’s very emotional to be there. It’s the first time I’m in this kind of arena. It’s the Olympics, the best competition in athletics. When I saw my face on the screen when the camera came, I tried not to cry. You can’t break down before you’ve run 800 meters.”

The men’s 10,000m was run at a decent pace throughout, with Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha and Selemon Barega tying the field in the first half of the race. But there were still nine athletes in the race before Cheptegei sped away to win gold in 26:43.14. Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi claimed silver and American Grant Fisher took bronze.