London Olympian Laura Weightman runs huge 3000m personal best

Laura Weightman knocked 19 seconds off her 3000m best to post the fourth-fastest time in the world this year.

The London Olympian, 21, ran a time of eight minutes 43.46 seconds in Manchester on Tuesday - the fastest time run by a woman outdoors in 2013.

Ethiopian trio Genzebe Dibaba, Meseret Defar and Tirunesh Dibaba all ran faster times during the indoor season.

Weightman tweeted: "Cracking start to the 2013 season tonight at Stretford, loved being back in spikes and racing."

The Morpeth athlete is now the 11th quickest British female of all time, 21 seconds slower than UK record-holder Paula Radcliffe.

Weightman is coached by former Olympic 1500m silver medallist Steve Cram and enjoyed something of a breakthrough 2012, improving her 1500m time by five seconds and reaching the final of the London Olympics.