Personal best for Abdel in Boston

Abdel Laadjel cruised to a win and a personal best at the prestigious David Hemery Valintine Indoor Invitational at the Boston University track on Saturday evening.

Running in the section 2 race over the 3,000m distance, the Donore Harriers member stayed near the back of the 14- man field through the opening 10 laps.

It was only over the final kilometre that Laadjel exerted his superiority by moving to the front – and then kicked on to win well clear of runner-up Gable Sieperda (7.55.14) of Iowa State University.

Abdel’s new time of 7.52.52 ranks him 5th on the Irish 3,000m list for this year -and he ranked 13th of 145 competitors after the 9 sections of 3km races were complete.

In the 5,000m Section Three race an unfortunate John Travers retired mid-race due to illness.