Newmills runner Nick Griggs broke the record on Saturday at Victoria Park in Belfast, shaving a second off the previous 5km mark set by British Olympian Andy Butchart.

Griggs completed the 5K course in 13 minutes and 44 seconds.

The 19-year-old surpassed Andy Butchart’s mark of 13.45 set in Edinburgh last June.

Parkrun does not recognize times as world records or world records, describing its events as a “run not a race”.

Last year, fellow Irish international Ciara Mageean set the women’s world record at the same Belfast venue, clocking 15 minutes and 13 seconds.

Griggs, who was previously head boy at Cookstown High School, first attracted attention in 2021, winning the European under-20 3,000m title at 16.

He has since won further European medals at the under-20 level and represented Ireland in the 1500m at the European Championships in Rome.

Despite missing out on a place on the Irish Olympic team, Griggs bounced back with personal bests in the 1500m, 3000m and 5000m.

In July he set a 3000m NI record of 7.36.59 at the Diamond League in London, placing him fourth on the Irish all-time list.

He also broke the NI 5000m record with 13.13.07 at the Morton Games and ran a new 1500m personal best of 3.35.04 at the British Milers Club meeting in Tooting.

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