James West runs fastest 2000m by Brit since 1988
James West has recorded the fastest 2000m by a Brit since 1988, with 4:56.23 at the Boris Hanžeković Memorial in Zagreb, Croatia (September 8).
The Brit goes fifth on the UK all-time list in the process and only Steve Cram, Peter Elliott, Jack Buckner and Gary Staines have gone faster.
West's 4:56.23 is the quickest time since Cram and Elliott ran 4:55.20 and 4:55.72 respectively in 1988.
The pair ran those times in late August and the 2000m is generally renowned for being a distance that is attempted either very early on or late in the season.
It is not an Olympic or world event but is an official world record discipline.
World record-holders have ranged from the likes of Paavo Nurmi and John Walker to Noureddine Morceli and Hicham El Guerrouj.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen holds the current record after bettering El Guerrouj's long-standing mark of 4:44.79 with an incredible 4:43.13 in Brussels last season.
Britain has only ever had one world record-holder in the 2000m and that was Cram, who ran 4:51.39 in 1985.
Given the strength of British middle distance running through the generations, the fact that West is now in the top five on the UK all-time list over the distance is mightily impressive.
West, who is based in Manchester with New Balance, retained both of his national titles this season – indoor 3000m and outdoor 5000m – and recorded a number of personal bests.
The Brit also finished seventh over 5000m at the European Championships and went ninth on the UK all-time list in the discipline with 13:09.07 back in May.
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