Weidlinger and Farah star in Stanford 10,000m – In the women\’s race European Cup 5,000m silver medallist Sabrina Maukenhop (GER) ran her fourth sub-31:30.00 – European Athletics News

 
Europe's up-and-coming distance runners had a sensational night at the 13th Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational in Stanford, California yesterday, with a hat trick of personal bests from Weidlinger, Farah and Fitschen.

Last year's European Cup 10,000m silver medallist Gunther Weidlinger (AUT) was the stand out performer of the race, making a huge improvement on his 28:19.11 best time, to take second place in a new Austrian record of 27:36.46 – just two seconds behind Australia's 2005 World 5,000m bronze medallist Craig Mottram.

Britain's 25-year-old European 5,000m silver medallist Mo Farah also produced a surprise performance for his 10,000m track debut, finishing fourth in an excellent 27:44.54, while reigning European 10,000m Champion Jan Fitschen knocked 8.39 seconds off his personal best time to finish 10th in 28:02.55.
 
In the women's race European Cup 5,000m silver medallist Sabrina Mockenhaupt (GER) ran her fourth sub-31:30.00 10,000m as the leading European in fourth place (31:27.05), while Britain's Kate Reed knocked 16.23 seconds off her best time from last year to take ninth place in 31:35.77.

There was further European 10,000m success in Germany and Austria, where London marathon winner Irina Mikitenko cruised round the track in Menden in her fastest time since the European Championships in Gothenburg (31:57.71) to take the German title, while 22-year-old Zelalem Martel ran a 29:19.28 PB to win the men's race.  In Villach (AUT) Weidlinger's protégés Martin Steinbauer (29:55.19) and Andrea Mayr (34:55.90) became the new 10,000m track champions.