Two national records in four days: Dominic Lobalu spearheads strong “Team On” performance

OSLO, Norway & STOCKHOLM, Sweden, June 3, 2024—The rainy and cold Bislett Games in Oslo saw six On athletes set new personal bests, five Olympic standards, and one tumbling national record, while Stockholm greeted athletes with warm conditions three days later. In the Swedish capital, On athletes set two national records, three personal bests, multiple season bests, and Olympic standards and claimed two podium finishes. 

Newly approved to represent Switzerland at major competitions, Dominic Lobalu led the charge and set a 5000m national record in Oslo and a new 3000m national record in Stockholm In Oslo, he came home in seventh place in the men’s 5000-meter race, and with his time of 12:50.90, Lobalu also met the Olympic standard. The 25-year-old pulverized the 40-year-old Swiss record set by Marcus Ryffel at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984. In Stockholm, Lobalu finished second in the 3000m event in a time of 7:33.68, which meant yet another new Swiss record.

Fellow On athlete Oscar Chelimo from Uganda finished in tenth position in the 5000m race in Oslo in a new personal best of 12:54.59, while Ethiopia’s Telahun Haile Bekele toed the start line next to Lobalu in Stockholm and finished in 13th place in Stockholm.

Lobalu and Jhinaoui on the podium in Stockholm

In the 3000m steeplechase, Mohamed Amin Jhinaoui stormed to third place, a new personal best and new Tunisian national record in a time of 8:10.41. On Athletic Club’s Geordie Beamish took on his first steeplechase of the season and finished in 8:14.71, inside the Olympic standard.

On Athletics Club Europe’s Revee Walcott-Nolan ran to a huge personal best of 4:00.77 in the women’s 1500m to finish 6th. OAC’s Sinta Vissa finished in tenth 10th in a season-best time of 4:03.36.

In addition, three On athletes were on start in the men’s 1500m race which was part of the pre-program in Stockholm. Robert Farken won the race against a strong field in 3:33.53, followed by OAC Europe teammate Luke McCann in second place (3:33.66), a personal best for the Irishman. Noah Baltus came in in eighth position, while Charles Grenthen was thirteenth.

Garcia, Hoare, Mills and Farken strong in Oslo

On Athletic Club Europe’s Marta García was only little more than half a second away from beating the Spanish 3,000m record of her fellow Palencia native Marta Domínguez. García held on to the back of the field for a first and second kilometer and then moved smartly to avoid being cut off from the top eight. At the bell for the last round, she slipped off the pace, but she still managed to overtake Kenya's Carolina Nyaga on the last corner to come in sixth with a new personal best of 8:29.32.

In the men’s 1500-meter race, Australian Olli Hoare, Brit George Mills, and German Robert Farken toed the start line wearing the On kits. While winner Jacob Ingebrigtsen dove across the finish line to take a narrow victory over Timothy Cheruiyot, On Athletic Club athletes Hoare, Mills, and Farken finished sixth, seventh, and ninth, respectively, all setting new season bests and confirming the Olympic standard. 

Diamond League Oslo Results:

Diamond League Stockholm Results:

About On

On was born in the Swiss Alps in 2010 with the mission to ignite the human spirit through movement – a mission that still guides the brand today. Fourteen years after market launch, On delivers industry-disrupting innovation in premium footwear, apparel and accessories for high-performance running, outdoor, training, all-day activities and tennis. On’s award-winning CloudTec® innovation, purposeful design and groundbreaking strides within the circular economy have attracted a fast-growing global fan base – inspiring humans to explore, discover and Dream On.

On is present in more than 60 countries globally and engages with a digital community on www.on.com.