Mark Carroll produced his finest performance of the season last evening when breaking his own Irish 3,000 metres record by more than three seconds in a time of 7 minutes 30.36 seconds, good enough for fifth place in a world class field.

The race was won by Benjamin Limo of Kenya, the world cross-country short course champion, in 7:28.67, but Carroll was always in contention and came home with a storming finish. His previous best of 7:33.84, set in Brussels last summer, was demolished and brings Carroll right back to his best form ahead of the world championships in Seville.