Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei ensured a thrilling return for competitive athletics on Friday as he shattered the much-vaunted 16-year-old 5,000m world record at the Monaco Diamond League. Cheptegei's astonishing display capped a warm welcome back for track and field for a season almost wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic, with fellow world champions Noah Lyles and Karsten Warholm also shining on the track. Lyles had worn a black glove on his right hand and raised his fist at the start of the 200m to show his support for recent anti-racism protests.

In perfect conditions, with little wind and temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius (81F), Cheptegei clocked 12min 35.36sec to shatter Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele's previous best of 12:37.35, set in 2004. "I've tried to improve on my speed," smiled Cheptegei when asked what he had been working on since his world gold medal showing in the 10,000m in Doha in September.