Jinson Johnson betters own record to win 1500m silver in ISTAF Berlin, qualifies for Doha World Championships

Berlin: Asian Games gold medallist Jinson Johnson bettered his own 1500m national record while clinching a silver in the ISTAF Berlin event on Sunday.

Johnson clocked 3 minute 35.24 seconds to finish second behind Joshua Thompson of United States at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

The earlier national record in the name of the 28-year-old Kerala runner was 3:37.86 which he had set at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games last year. He also holds the 800m national record (1:45.65).

With his own national record shattering effort, Jinson also qualified for the World Championships to be held in Doha from 28 September to 6 October. The World Championships qualifying time is 3:36.00.

“I was expecting to set new national record but did not expect to win the silver. I will now go to Colorado in USA for further training and then to Doha for World Championships,” Jinson said after the event.

“I am very happy. But my ultimate aim is to do well in Tokyo 2020.”

Jinson had won the 2018 Asian Games gold in 1500m with a time of 3:44.72.

ISTAF Berlin is a part of the IAAF World Challenge meetings, the second tier of global one day athletics events. It is the penultimate leg of the IAAF World Challenge meetings this year.