Jakob Ingebrigtsen shattered one of the longest standing track world records on a sweltering afternoon at the Silesian Stadium on Sunday (25) as he clocked a staggering 7:17.55 for the 3000m, taking more than three seconds off the mark of 7:20.67 set by Kenya’s Daniel Komen in 1996.

USA’s Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone made a stupendous and successful defence of her Olympic 400m hurdles title at the Paris 2024 Games on Thursday (8) as she took 0.28 off her own world record* with 50.37.

South African high jumper Jacques Freitag has died at age 42. Jacques Freitag, African high jump record holder (2m38) died tragically. After missing for two weeks, he was found dead with gunshot wounds in Pretoria.

Freitag's sister, Chrissie Lewis, had appealed for help on social media to find Freitag, who disappeared in the early hours of June 17 after leaving her mother's house. Chrissie Lewis said Freitag struggled with drug addiction after his athletic career ended.

Hagos Gebrhiwet produced the standout performance of the Bislett Games – and one of the biggest surprises of the year so far – when winning the men’s 5000m in 12:36.73 at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Oslo on Thursday (30).

It was one of three meeting records and five world leads set on an enthralling night of athletics action in the Norwegian capital, just two months away from the Paris Olympic Games.

Residents of the Dakar International Center (AADC) performed well during meetings in Martinique and Japan. The Gambian Gina Bass signed the best performance of her career by achieving 10”93 in the 100m. A first for the sprinter under 11 seconds. Which constitutes a new national record for The Gambia. The Malagasy Sidonie Fiadanantsoa also stood out with a time of 12”86 in the 100m Hurdles. She can aim for the ticket to Paris 2024. Louis François Mendy placed 2nd with a time of 13”50 in the 110m Hurdles. Like Gina Bass, he has already validated his visa for Paris 2024. Saly Sarr, with 14m08 in the Triple Jump, signs his best performance in this event.

Amadou Gakou's record threatened

The Senegalese Cheikh Tidiane Diouf, not a resident of AADC Dakar, clocked 45''03 in the 400m, thereby threatening the legendary national record of Amadou Gakou (45''01 established since 1968).

In a landmark decision, World Athletics has today (10 April) announced it will become the first international federation to award prize money at an Olympic Games, financially rewarding athletes for achieving the pinnacle of sporting success, starting at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.

The residents of AADC Dakar performed well during the African Games currently taking place in Accra (Ghana). Thus, Louis François Mendy from Senegal won Gold in the 110m hurdles with a time of 13”61. Gina Bass from Gambia flew through the women's 100m final, clocking 11''36. Sidonie FIADANANTSOA from Madagascar finished 2nd in the 100m hurdles final in 13”19 behind world record holder Tobi Amusan from Nigeria (12”89). Saly Sarr from Senegal took the bronze medal in the Triple Jump by landing 13m60.

The World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 concluded on Sunday (3) after three days of thrilling action that kicked off a busy year of top-level competition in the sport.

The event in the Scottish city was the first of five World Athletics Series events taking place in 2024, a year that features the Olympic Games in Paris in August.

The World Athletics Council has selected Beijing, China, to host the 2027 World Athletics Championships.

The decision was made at the 234th World Athletics Council Meeting, held in Glasgow ahead of the World Athletics Indoor Championships (1-3 March).