Frenchman Étienne Daguinos breaks the European 10km record

French athlete Étienne Daguinos beat the European 10 km road record on Saturday in Lille, which his compatriot Jimmy Gressier had held since March, by crossing the line in 27 min 04. The 24-year-old Frenchman, 15th in the 5,000 meters at the European Championships in Rome in June, broke his old record by 45 seconds to win the race ahead of Kenyans Meshack Lelgut and Charles Rotich. At the end of the effort, he collapsed a few seconds after crossing the finish line.

By finishing in 27 min 04, Daguinos shaved three seconds off the former best European mark, achieved eight months ago almost to the day and also in Lille by Jimmy Gressier. Daguinos, licensed at Talence, had announced that he was aiming for 27:30 but with this great time he confirms his enormous form this fall. Three weeks ago, he also made a strong impression by running under the hour at the Valencia half-marathon (59:46), third best French performance of all time tied with… Gressier. “Well done Etienne Daguinos for this new European record”wrote on Instagram Gressier, 13th in the Paris Olympics over 10,000 m (26:58.67, French record shattered). “The French level is on fire”he added.