Nico Young’s powerful finish made him only the third American man ever to win a Diamond League 5000. (DIAMOND LEAGUE AG)
OSLO, NORWAY, June 12 — The 60th Bislett Games featured pre-meet buzz around two possible men’s World Records: in the newly official 300H and the 5000. Only one mark came under threat, but both contests delivered thrilling performances.
World Athletics only made the 300H official this year, so the record attempt had less buildup than the rare in-season clash between the big three in the 400H: reigning Olympic champ Rai Benjamin, 2021 gold medalist Karsten Warholm, and 2022 world champion Alison dos Santos. (The trio will meet again soon in Stockholm for a 400H showdown.)
Warholm has embraced the 300H, setting his latest World Record of 33.05 on April 26 in Xiamen. Competing before a supportive home crowd at Bislett Stadium, the Norwegian aimed to reaffirm his dominance in the shorter version of his main event.
The final event of a bright Nordic evening, Warholm, in lane 7, exploded down the backstretch. Benjamin, from lane 5, was level and surged ahead around the curve. But he slowed on the homestretch and clipped the last hurdle, losing steam. Warholm kept attacking and surged into the lead to win in 32.67.
Benjamin narrowly held off dos Santos for second, finishing 33.22 to the Brazilian’s 33.38.
“It went well, although I was worried when Rai was coming strong. I had to push off the last hurdle to win,” said Warholm. “I usually tire at the end of the 400, so 300 suits me better. But I’ll be ready for Sunday’s 400.”
Benjamin accepted the outcome with class. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’m happy overall,” said the American, opening his 2025 outdoor season after one indoor race. “Oslo gave us this amazing stage. Races like this help all of us. I thought I’d run faster, but that last hurdle hurt me.”
In the 5000, lights were set to pace for 12:35.36 — the World Record by Joshua Cheptegei in 2020. The early splits (2:33.04 at 1000 and 5:07.31 at 2000) showed promise, but it became clear the record wouldn’t fall. Instead, the race turned tactical and tense. At 4000m, Britain’s George Mills led, with Ethiopians Biniam Mehary and Kuma Girma and American Nico Young closely tracking him.
Young, 22, used the same furious finish that won him the Philadelphia Grand Slam 3000 on June 1. He kicked hard off the final curve, pulling ahead of Mehary to take the win — just the third American to do so in a DL 5000 after Ben True (New York, 2015) and Paul Chelimo (London, 2018).
Young’s 12:45.27 makes him the 13th-fastest man ever and the No. 2 American in history (the fastest U.S. time outdoors).
“It was wild,” said Young, who placed 12th in last year’s Olympic 10,000. “I wasn’t totally sure what to expect coming in, but I’m proud I hung on. There were so many possible outcomes.”
Mehary (12:45.93), Girma (12:46.41), and Mills (12:46.59) all ran PRs. Mills broke Mo Farah’s long-standing British Record (12:53.11 from 2011). Graham Blanks, off the pace early, finished strong in 7th at 12:48.20 — now the No. 3 American all-time.
The men’s 800 began quickly, and Olympic champ Emmanuel Wanyonyi looked to be fading late, but he surged to win in 1:42.78. He edged Mohamed Attaoui (1:42.90) and Paris bronze medalist Djamel Sedjati (1:43.06), racing for the first time since last September.
Portugal’s Isaac Nader shocked in the Dream Mile, grabbing the lead with 200m to go and powering to victory down the stretch. His 3:48.25 set a new Portuguese Record.
“I’m thrilled to win so decisively — my main goal was the national record and I got it,” said Nader, who placed 4th in the 1500 at World Indoors. “This gives me confidence for Tokyo. This is just the start of my season.”
Australian teen Cam Myers finished fast on the inside for 2nd in 3:48.87. A total of 11 runners dipped under 3:50, including Vince Ciattei, 8th in 3:49.37 — making him the 12th-fastest American of all time.
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