When the talk is about a rising American middle-distance runner, the first name that floats up is Yared Nuguse. The 24-year-old  athlete was stated as the champion in the 2019 NCAA Division 1. Adding to this, he set the North American outdoor record over 1500m and one mile, opening the gates for his Olympic debut. While his accomplishments vaulted him to worldwide recognition, Nuguse was determined to claim the Diamond League Final’s title held on Saturday.

With an impressive performance on the tracks, the American runner smashed a 16-year-old national mile record. Sadly, Nuguse could not set his name to the ultimate title as it slipped out for a few milliseconds. It was a jaw-dropping race and a close call with the winner Jakob Ingebrigtsen, that left the community on their toes until the very last second. Given the athlete’s record-shattering feat, there was a wave of shock among the American fans.

Yared Nuguse breaks a record

The entire track and field world was stunned by the performances in the one-mile event. Yared Nuguse, with all his might, smashed a national mile record. Even though he couldn’t win the event, his efforts were praiseworthy. Hence, his feat was not left unrecognized by the fans. Netizens on social media hailed him on his new achievement at the Diamond League Finals.

A Twitter user, Chris Chave shared a video of the epic moment on his feed. It was the last lapse between Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Yared Nuguse, both pacing up to secure the first position. The caption read, “OH MY GOD. WHAT A MILE.”  The user also added, “3:43.73 for Jakob Ingebrigtsen (No.2 all-time) and 3:43.97 for Yared Nuguse (No.3 all-time & American record).” 

Read more: “Made a Great Comeback”: After Losing to Jamaicans, Sha’Carri Richardson Makes Fans Drool Over Her All ‘Natural’ Look

The race was the true definition of a nail-biting yet exciting moment. Nuguse clocked in a 3:43:97, breaking former track and field athlete Alan Webb’s 16-year-old American record of 3:46:91. However, Nuguse’s time was not good enough to claim the first position, as the Norwegian runner took it home by 24 milliseconds. Nevertheless, the American track and field community can’t complain.

The stunning one-mile performances at the Prefontaine Classic 

Yarad Nuguse finished second in the race yet won hearts by setting the standards for a new American record. In the year 2007, the previous mark of 3:46.91 was set by Webb in Belgium. He now is in the fourth rank on the all-time world list. On the other hand, Ingebrigtsen secured the first position in the third-fastest time in history with a time of 3:43.73. This feat created new records in the Diamond League, Pre-Classic, and European Records.

Both of the athletes were head-to-head the entire race, and it would have been impossible to call the winner. Till the very last rounding to the last curve, they remained tight. Nuguse tried his best to keep up with Ingebrigtsen’s pace. He attempted moving wide to lane two, trying and pass Ingebrigsten, but failed to close the gap.

Needless to say, it was a tight and interesting race. Now Nuguse is kicking back into the offseason and recharging his batteries for the Olympic year. Whereas, Ingebrigtsen will be making preparations for his wedding next week. Exciting times, isn’t it?

Watch this story: Fresh Out of Retirement Ian Valiiere Struggles To Reconnect As A Track and Field Athlete