The Netherlands’ Nick Smidt and Sweden’s Samuel Pihlström rewrote their country’s respective national record books at the Folksam Grand Prix in Boras, a World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger meeting, on Wednesday (21) evening.
The home crowd was hoping for a home victory from 2024 European bronze medallist Carl Bengström in the 400m hurdles but he was pipped to the line by Smidt who improved his Dutch record to 48.36 and beat Bengström by 0.06.
But there was a home victory in the mile for Samuel Pihlström who clocked 3:52.20 to break Kalle Berglund’s former mark of 3:53.83 which has stood since 2019.
Pihlström, who fell in the 1500m heats at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships and injured his wrist in the process, defeated a strong lineup including Australia’s Ky Robinson (3:52.79) and USA's Waleed Suliman (3:52.93).
“I've been a little sick after the Olympics, so the real top form is a bit gone, but the last hundred went well there,” said Pihlström who says his goals are to break the Swedish 1500m record and the 3:30-barrier.
Other highlights included a pair of Jamiacan victories with Shashalee Forbes winning the 100m in 11.14, coming home ahead of Swedish record-holder Julia Henriksson in 11.21, and surprise Olympic bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell taking the shot put with 21.13m.