The prospect of a track record was always likely, due to the high-quality field assembled at the Arena Lodowa in Tomaszów Mazowiecki.

Sáblíková’s previous mark of 4:14.11 was set during training races held at the venue in September, with the women’s 5,000m having not been held at the arena last year.

All 16 competitors went under the existing record, but Sáblíková ensured she still held the fastest time.

The Czech star completed the event in 4min 6.133sec to top the standings.

The Netherlands' Olympic champion Carlijn Achtereekte placed second in 4:06.284, with Russia’s Natalia Voronina rounding off the top three in 4:06.614.

Canada’s Isabelle Weidemann, who won the women’s 3,000m event last week in Minsk, placed fourth in 4:06.760.

The Netherlands' Patrick Roest lived up to his status as pre-race favourite in the men's 5,000m competition.

Roest achieved a track record time of 6:19.388 to win the event.

He was followed by Russia's Danila Semerikov and Denis Yuskov, who finished in 6:20.469 and 6:24.303, respectively.

The Netherlands and Russia celebrated victories in the men's and women's team sprint events.

The Dutch team of Ronald Mulder, Kjeld Nuis and Thomas Krol won the men's race in 1:20.061.

China and Canada rounded off the podium places after finishing within a second of the winners.

China claimed the silver medal in 1:20.841, with Canada taking bronze by crossing the line in 1:20.966.

Russia's Angelina Golikova, Olga Fatkulina and Daria Kachanova clinched victory in the women's competition.

The trio achieved a time of 1:27.650 to top the standings.

The Netherlands were runners-up, finishing 1.69 seconds behind Russia, while the Japanese team crossed the line in 1:29.651 to win bronze.

Competition continues tomorrow with four finals.