New Zealand runner Maia Ramsden has continued her remarkable progress in the United States, taking two seconds off the NZ national women's 1500 metres record at a USATF Grand Prix meet in Los Angeles.
The 22-year-old Wellingtonian, who attends Harvard University in Boston, finished 11th in a fast-paced race with a time of 4 minutes 02.58 seconds.
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The previous record was 4min 04.82sec set by Nikki Hamblin at Barcelona in 2011.
The performance also represented a personal best by almost four seconds, faster than the 4min 06.51sec she ran in the world indoor final at Glasgow in March.
Her time was just outside the qualification for the Paris Olympics by 0.8 seconds.
During the race Ramsden was placed near the back of the 17-strong field but moved up several places in the final lap which was dominated by African runners.
Ethiopian Diribe Welteji won in 3m 55.25s, outsprinting countrywoman and world indoor champion Freweyni Hailu with two Kenyan runners coming in third and fourth.
The 2024 NCAA women's 1500m champion was the first New Zealander to win the prestigious title.
Earlier this year, she won the national collegiate indoor mile crown with a time of 4m 25.13s, while finishing 10th in the world indoor 1500m.