Kiwi Geordie Beamish has broken the national 3000m steeplechase record to qualify for next year's Paris Olympics.
Beamish, 26, has clocked 8m 13.26s to finish fifth at the Monaco Diamond League meeting, slashing more than four seconds off his previous best, set earlier this month.
The performance betters Peter Renner's national mark of 8m 14.05 from 1984 and the Paris qualifying standard of 8m 15s, while also setting an Oceania area record.
Previously known for his 1500m/5000m exploits, Beamish won the US college indoor mile title in 2016, competing for Northern Arizona University, and already holds the national 3000m record of 7m 36.22s, set indoors.
He finished sixth over 5000 metres at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, before turning his prowess on the flat to the hurdles, where he is now the 15th fastest steeplechaser this year, after just six races over the distance.
At Monaco, he trailled Kenyan winner Simon Koech (8m 04.19s) by nine seconds, with fellow Kenyan Abraham Kibiwot (8m 09.54s) second, followed by Ethiopians Abrham Sime and Samuel Firewu.
