Mo Farah sets a new British and European 10,000m record

Mo Farah stunned a top-class field by setting a new British and European 10,000m record at the Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon.

The 28-year-old's time of 26 minutes 46.57 seconds wiped six seconds off Mohammed Mourhit's previous European record, dating back to 1999.

He also bettered Jon Brown's 13-year-old British record of 27:18.14.

"That was awesome. I wanted to break the British record," the Somalia-born Farah told BBC Radio 5 live.

"I was really confident and I knew if I could stay in the group I could work my way through and see what I could do on the last lap."

Farah, who won the 5,000 and 10,000m at last year's European Championships, finished just ahead of Ethiopia's Imane Merga, whose time of 26:48.35 was a new personal best.

"I want a world [championship] medal and showed here that if I keep working hard I will be in the mix," added Farah, whose previous fastest time was a 27:28.26 set last year.

"This is definitely a special track. If it wasn't for the crowds I would never have done this. With three laps to go I knew I had the chance for the record."

Farah appears to be benefitting from a move earlier this year to the United States where he began working in Oregon with Alberto Salazar, who won three successive New York marathons.

"I wasn't even looking to win this race. I just wanted to run a good time. Alberto told me before the race I was ready to run under 27 minutes and I just used my patience," stated Farah.

Farah's performance earned some high praise from UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee.

"That was a truly world class performance from Mo beating a very strong field," he said.

"I am delighted for him. Not only did he destroy both the British and European records, he stood out in a global quality race and beat some of the world's top athletes.

"That is a positive indication as we move towards the World Championships and London 2012."

Another notable performance of the evening saw Kenya's Moses Mosop break the 30-year-old world record for the rarely run 30k.

The 25-year-old clocked a time of one hour 26 minutes 47.4 seconds, breaking the previous record of 1:29:18.8 set by Japan's Toshihiko Seko in 1981.