The Irish teenager takes one second off Andy Butchart’s mark from last year

Andy Butchart’s reign as “parkrun world record-holder” came to an end on Saturday (November 9), when Nick Griggs improved his time by one second at Victoria Park in Belfast.

Griggs clocked 13:44, just short of his personal 5km best of 13:39, which he recorded at the Podium 5k Festival in March.

After Ciara Mageean ran 15:13 at Victoria Park last December, it means that Irish athletes now hold the fastest parkrun times in both men’s and women’s categories.

Parkrun does not classify times as world records or world bests, with the organisation describing its events as a “run and not a race”.

Nick Griggs (Getty)

“I wasn’t going into it trying to break the record,” Griggs told BBC Radio Ulster.

“Before the race, I knew I was in good shape and knew I should be within a chance of breaking the record. It was a bit of a sprint finish to get it but it was a good feeling.

“I don’t think anyone really knew until we finished. I looked at my watch and saw I had taken a second off the world record. It was pretty shocking. I wasn’t really thinking about it, to be honest. We all realised after and there was a bit of a buzz around it.”

Nick Griggs (Getty)

Griggs, who is a European under-20 3000m champion and silver medallist, used the parkrun to prepare for the Irish Cross Country Championships in Enniskillen on November 17.

The 19-year-old is hoping to gain selection for next month’s European Cross Country Championships in Turkey.

READ MORE: Andy Butchart runs parkrun ‘world record’

He claimed bronze in the under-20 race at last year’s edition in Brussels, finishing behind Denmark’s Axel Vang Christensen and the Netherlands’ Niels Laros.

Griggs has also represented Ireland on the global stage, placing 12th in his 1500m heat at the most recent World Championships in Budapest.

READ MORE: Cardiff Cross Challenge coverage

The Irishman boasts respective personal bests of 3:35.04, 7:36.59 and 13:13.07 in the 1500m, 3000m and 5000m.

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