Sweden’s Andreas Almgren produced a superb championship performance in Copenhagen, winning the men’s half marathon at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in a new European record of 58:06.

Almgren and Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir were locked together through much of the race, but the Swede timed his final move perfectly. He pulled away on the finishing stretch past Parken to win by five seconds, with Kipkorir taking silver in 58:11. Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei claimed bronze in a personal best of 58:26.

The European record was particularly significant because Almgren was already the previous record-holder. He had run 58:41 in Valencia on 26 October 2025, becoming the first European athlete to break 59 minutes for the half marathon. His Copenhagen run therefore took a remarkable 35 seconds off his own European record.

For comparison, the current men’s world record is 56:51, set by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha in Buenos Aires on 23 August 2026. That performance improved on Jacob Kiplimo’s 57:20 from Lisbon earlier in the year. Kiplimo had also run a much faster 56:42 in Barcelona in 2025, but World Athletics later confirmed that performance could not be ratified as a world record because the course conditions did not fully comply with the rules.

Almgren’s 58:06 moved him to ninth on the world all-time list and secured his first global gold medal, adding another major achievement to a season in which he had already established himself as one of Europe’s leading endurance runners.

Behind the medal positions, Ethiopia’s Tadese Worku ran a personal best of 58:35 for fourth, with Kenya’s Gideon Rono fifth in 58:57.

For Almgren, Copenhagen was not just a championship victory, but a substantial rewriting of the European half-marathon record.

Kenya’s Agnes Jebet Ngetich produced a world-record performance in the women’s half marathon at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, winning in 1:05:15.

Ngetich took control almost immediately and turned the championship race into a remarkable solo pursuit of the record. She was already 10 seconds clear at 5km, reached in 15:12, and had extended the advantage to 26 seconds by 10km. By 15km, the gap had grown to more than 50 seconds.

Crossing the line in 1:05:15, Ngetich took one second off the previous women-only half marathon world record of 1:05:16, set by fellow Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir when she won the World Half Marathon Championships in Gdynia, Poland, on 17 October 2020. Jepchirchir’s record had therefore stood for almost six years.

There is an important distinction with the half-marathon record. World Athletics recognises a separate women-only record, for races in which women do not compete alongside male runners. The faster overall women’s half-marathon record has been achieved in a mixed race. Ngetich’s Copenhagen performance specifically broke the women-only world record.

Ngetich’s dominance was underlined by the winning margin. Kenya’s Veronica Loleo took silver in 1:06:05, 50 seconds behind, while Rwanda’s Florence Niyonkuru won bronze in a national record of 1:06:08.

The victory gave Ngetich another major global title and provided one of the outstanding performances of the Copenhagen championships — a championship victory accompanied by a world record that had survived since 2020.

The 1:05:15 performance is subject to the usual World Athletics ratification procedure.

The men’s 5km at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen produced a dramatic finish as Eritrea’s Dawit Seare denied Jakob Ingebrigtsen victory in the final metres.

Ingebrigtsen had worked his way steadily through the leading group before making what looked like the decisive move late in the race. With around 30 seconds of running remaining, the Norwegian moved past Seare and into the lead, appearing to have timed his challenge perfectly.

But Seare responded superbly. The Eritrean drew back alongside Ingebrigtsen on the run to the line before powering clear in the closing metres to take the world title in a national record of 12:56. Ingebrigtsen finished three seconds behind in 12:59, also setting a national record for Norway.

It was a particularly impressive victory for Seare, who had remained in contention throughout before producing the decisive final burst. Behind the leading pair, Eritrea enjoyed further success as Saymon Amanuel claimed bronze in a personal best of 13:00.

Australia’s Ky Robinson was fourth in an area record of 13:04, with Uganda’s Keneth Kiprop recording the same time in fifth.

The battle between Seare and Ingebrigtsen provided one of the standout finishes of the Copenhagen championships, with the race changing hands twice in its closing stages before Seare found the speed to take gold almost on the line.

The Mile

The World Athletics Road Running Championships got underway in Copenhagen with two fast and competitive mile races, producing world-leading performances, national records and a string of personal bests.

Farken takes men’s title in world-leading time

Germany’s Robert Farken claimed victory in the men’s mile, producing a superb 3:51.80 world-leading performance to take the title.

American Yared Nuguse followed closely in second, clocking a season’s best 3:52.33, while Luxembourg’s Ruben Querinjean completed the podium with a national record of 3:52.77.

Morocco’s Anass Essayi was fourth in a personal best of 3:53.28, just ahead of France’s Flavien Szot, whose 3:53.44 was also a national record.

Australian Oliver Hoare finished sixth in 3:53.65, setting an area record.

Britain’s Jake Heyward finished 11th but produced a personal best, stopping the clock at 3:55.76.

Guillemot wins women’s race

France’s Agathe Guillemot delivered an impressive performance to win the women’s mile in a world-leading 4:22.74.

Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu took second in a season’s best 4:24.35, with Kenya’s Mirriam Cherop third in 4:25.71.

There was a strong home performance from Denmark’s Annemarie Nissen, who finished fourth in a personal best 4:26.78.

Kenya’s Naomi Korir was fifth in 4:29.15, Jamaica’s Adelle Tracey sixth in 4:29.30, while Australia’s Linden Hall set an area record of 4:29.36 in seventh.

The Ellesmere Port RC 5K once again lived up to its reputation as one of the fastest road races in the North West, although this year’s event presented runners with a very different challenge. Extreme heat made conditions exceptionally tough, while the evening’s partial solar eclipse provided an unusual backdrop to racing on the fast, flat roads around Capenhurst.

The men’s race was won by Luke Burgess, who has previously represented Deeside AAC, in an impressive 14:47. Jack Bromley of Buckley RC pushed Burgess at the front, finishing runner-up in a superb 14:54, just seven seconds behind the winner, with Max Taylor completing the top three in 14:56.

Deeside AAC also celebrated victory at the front of the women’s race, with Eden O’Dea producing an excellent run to take the women’s title in 16:50, with a chip time of 16:46, placing an impressive 39th overall.

There was plenty more to celebrate for Deeside AAC, particularly among the club’s exciting crop of young athletes. Ryan Delaney produced an excellent 15:56 to take the men’s Under-20 title, finishing 13th overall.

Another of Deeside’s emerging young talents, Harri Morris, continued his rapid progress with a superb 16:29. The youngster, who is rapidly emerging as one of the club’s new sensations, finished third in the Under-20 category and 25th overall in a high-quality field.

One of the standout performances of the entire evening, however, came from Deeside AAC’s Ella Hayes. Still only 13 years old, Ella produced a remarkable run to win the women’s Under-20 title, despite competing against athletes several years her senior.

Ella crossed the line in a gun time of 18:40, with a chip time of 18:36, placing her an excellent 10th woman overall. Even more impressively, her 18:40 represented a new personal best.

Achieving a PB in such difficult conditions made the performance all the more remarkable. On a sweltering evening when the heat was hardly conducive to fast distance running, Ella not only lowered her best time but also claimed the Under-20 title at just 13 years of age.

There were strong performances in the veterans’ categories too. Wrexham AAC’s Ryan Davis clocked 15:34 to finish an impressive seventh overall and take second place in the Vet 35 category.

Prestatyn RC’s Thomas Carter showed that he has lost little of the speed that once carried him to a 3:57.30 mile, producing an excellent 16:07 to finish 17th overall and take victory in the Vet 40 category.

There was further success for Prestatyn RC in the veteran ranks. Martin Cortvriend took the Vet 70 victory in 24:56, with clubmate Brian Williams completing an impressive Prestatyn one-two in the category, finishing second in 25:38. Alongside Carter’s Vet 40 victory, it proved a particularly successful evening for the club’s masters athletes.

With the partial eclipse unfolding overhead and unusually high temperatures testing the entire field, the 2026 Ellesmere Port RC 5K proved a memorable edition of one of the region’s quickest 5K races.

For Deeside AAC, the performances of Eden O’Dea, Ryan Delaney, Harri Morris and Ella Hayes provided plenty to celebrate, but Ella’s achievement was particularly striking — a new 5K personal best, the Under-20 title and a top-ten finish in the women’s race, all achieved at just 13 years of age and in exceptionally demanding conditions.

The World Record holder shows his form again following his world record at The Diamond League in London.

Scotland’s Josh Kerr produced a breathtaking display of tactical mile racing to win the Dream Mile at Scotstoun Stadium, unleashing a devastating burst of speed over the final 300 metres to leave a world-class field with no answer.

For much of the race, Kerr was content to bide his time, sitting comfortably in the pack while others attempted to dictate the pace. Australia’s Cameron Myers, Kenya’s Timothy Cheruiyot and Wales’ Jake Heyward all took turns at the front, each trying to force the issue, but every move proved to be in vain as the field remained tightly bunched heading towards the bell.

Then came the decisive moment.

With just 300 metres remaining, Kerr exploded past the leaders with an electrifying change of pace that instantly broke the race apart. Within seconds he had opened daylight on the chasing pack as the roar from the home crowd reached fever pitch. The Scottish supporters sensed they were witnessing something special as their home hero powered clear to cross the line in 3:54.12.

Australia’s Cameron Myers claimed second in 3:55.26, with Kenya’s Timothy Cheruiyot taking third in 3:55.41. Wales’ Jake Heyward produced another accomplished tactical performance to finish fourth in 3:55.54, but his expression after crossing the line suggested the disappointment of an athlete who knew he had been in contention before Kerr’s irresistible finishing kick.

It was Kerr’s night from start to finish. His patience, race awareness and devastating acceleration proved far too much for an outstanding field, while the packed stands at Scotstoun Stadium erupted in celebration as Scotland’s home hero delivered a memorable victory.

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Welsh clubs impress as Italy dominates the 2026 Snowdon International Mountain Race

The spectacular setting of Llanberis once again hosted one of the world’s most iconic mountain races as elite international athletes and hundreds of club runners tackled the demanding ascent and descent of Yr Wyddfa in the 2026 Snowdon International Mountain Race.

Italy dominated the international men’s race, with Massimiliano Berti producing a magnificent performance to win in 1:04:13, ahead of compatriots Tiziano Moia (1:05:47) and Giulio Simonetti (1:07:14), completing a memorable Italian clean sweep of the podium.

There was plenty to celebrate from a Welsh perspective. Representing Cymru, Sam Gunning was the first Welsh athlete home, finishing an excellent 16th overall in 1:12:55 after another outstanding display on one of the sport’s toughest courses. He was closely followed by Gavin Sadler in 19th (1:13:28), Cai Dafydd in 20th (1:13:37), Ben Porter in 24th (1:15:02), Kieran in 25th (1:15:06) and Rhys Jones in 26th (1:15:16), underlining the strength and depth of the Welsh international team.

Among the club athletes, Deeside AAC celebrated one of the standout performances of the day as Ed Woodhead claimed victory in the Under-23 category, finishing an outstanding 28th overall in 1:15:43. Maldwyn Harriers also impressed, with Matt Benson taking second in the Under-23 competition in 1:21:27.

Eryri Harriers once again demonstrated why they remain one of Britain’s strongest mountain-running clubs. Siôn Edwards led the club home in 34th overall with 1:18:01, while Ian Edwards, Owain Hunt Williams, Darren Roberts, Adam, Ieuan, Jake, Luke Jones, Iolo Owen, Hugh Morgan, Gwion Williams, Gary Julio, Ifan Jones, Gwydion and Guto Edwards all featured strongly throughout the results. The women were equally impressive, with Elliw Haf, Mabli Baines, Jennifer Charlton, Alison Thomas, Cadi Ostler and several other Eryri athletes securing leading positions across the senior and masters categories.

Rhedwyr Hebog enjoyed another successful home race. Elis Jones finished 38th overall in 1:18:54, while Jacob Hiom, Dion Jones, Tomos, Goronwy Hughes, Iwan ap… and several others ensured the club featured prominently throughout the field.

There were also excellent performances from Mynydd Du, led by Jonathan in 48th overall and supported by Wyndham, Bethan Logan, Lucy Williamson and Emma McWilliams, who claimed victory in the women’s 40+ category.

Denbigh Harriers were well represented through Aron Evans, John, Glen, Eleanor Ashcroft, Menai Baugh, Melina Morris and Sophie Johnson, while Meirionnydd Running Club recorded strong performances from Dafydd, Ieuan, James, Helen Jones and Dave Whittey.

Elsewhere, Buckley RC celebrated a category victory as Jez Brown won the men’s 50+ title, while Wrexham AAC’s Ally Hughes finished fourth in the M40 category after another excellent run. Cybi Striders were represented by Armon and Johnhuw, while Prestatyn RC’s Gareth produced a strong run on his home roads and trails.

The combination of world-class international competition and outstanding performances from Welsh clubs once again confirmed why the Snowdon International Mountain Race remains one of the highlights of the British mountain-running calendar, with athletes from across Wales producing performances to match the spectacular backdrop of Eryri National Park.

Men’s podium

🥇 Massimiliano Berti (Italy) – 1:04:13
🥈 Tiziano Moia (Italy) – 1:05:47
🥉 Giulio Simonetti (Italy) – 1:07:14

Photography: Bill Scriven – Running In Focus