Running News Daily

Eritrea’s Dawit Seare produced a sensational performance on Saturday, September 19, 2026, to claim the men’s 5km world title at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, defeating Norway’s Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen in a dramatic battle that went down to the final metres.

Seare crossed the finish line in a national record of 12:56, with Ingebrigtsen taking silver in a Norwegian record of 12:59. Eritrea completed a remarkable double podium as Saymon Amanuel secured bronze in a personal best of 13:00.

The closing stages produced an extraordinary finish as Seare and Ingebrigtsen engaged in a fierce battle for the world title. With just 150 metres remaining, the lead changed hands three times, underlining the intensity of the contest. Ingebrigtsen briefly surged ahead and appeared to have taken control, but Seare responded with another gear, powering past the Norwegian before the finish line.

The Eritrean’s decisive acceleration carried him to victory by three seconds, turning what had been a tightly contested race into a remarkable championship triumph. Seare held his composure under immense pressure and produced the strongest finish when it mattered most.

The race had featured a large leading group through much of the early stages before the pace intensified approaching the final kilometres. As the runners entered the decisive phase, Seare remained firmly in contention, positioning himself perfectly for the battle that would ultimately determine the world champion.

For Seare, the victory adds another major achievement to an impressive 2026 season. Having already established himself as the African 5,000m champion, he has now transferred that success to the roads by securing a world title in Copenhagen.

Ingebrigtsen was forced to settle for silver despite producing a national record of his own. The Norwegian’s late surge demonstrated his determination to control the race, but Seare’s response in the final metres proved decisive in one of the closest and most dramatic finishes of the championships.

Eritrea’s success was made even more remarkable by Amanuel’s bronze medal. His 13:00 personal best ensured that two Eritrean athletes stood on the podium, giving the country both gold and bronze in a memorable men’s 5km championship race.

Australia’s Ky Robinson also delivered an outstanding performance, finishing fourth in 13:04 to set an Oceanian record. Uganda’s Keneth Kiprop matched the time in fifth, while Ethiopia placed two athletes inside the top seven through Addisu Yihune and Mezgebu Sime.

Kenya’s Mathew Kipchumba Kipsang finished eighth in 13:11, followed by Burundi’s Egide Ntakarutimana in ninth and South Africa’s Maxime Chaumeton in 10th.

Men’s 5km Top 10 Results

1. Dawit Seare — Eritrea — 12:56 NR

2. Jakob Ingebrigtsen — Norway — 12:59 NR

3. Saymon Amanuel — Eritrea — 13:00 PB

4. Ky Robinson — Australia — 13:04 AR

5. Keneth Kiprop — Uganda — 13:04 PB

6. Addisu Yihune — Ethiopia — 13:07

7. Mezgebu Sime — Ethiopia — 13:08 SB

8. Mathew Kipchumba Kipsang — Kenya — 13:11 SB

9. Egide Ntakarutimana — Burundi — 13:12 PB

10. Maxime Chaumeton — South Africa — 13:13

Seare’s victory capped an unforgettable finish in Copenhagen, where three changes of the lead in the final 150 metres set up a dramatic showdown. In the end, the Eritrean produced the crucial final surge to deny Ingebrigtsen and claim a historic world 5km title in a national-record 12:56.

The streets of Cape Town witnessed a breathtaking distance-running performance as French athlete Maxime Chaumeton produced a sensational run to rewrite the record books at the 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 10K.

Chaumeton stormed to victory in a remarkable 27:41, a time still awaiting official ratification, but already celebrated as a new course record after eclipsing the previous mark by 12 seconds. On a course known for its intensity and rhythm-breaking terrain, the performance stood out as one of the fastest ever recorded at the event.

From the opening kilometres, the pace was relentless. Chaumeton separated himself from the field with a fearless surge that eventually turned the race into a historic solo exhibition. His fluid stride and sustained aggression through the final stages left spectators lining the streets in awe as he crossed the finish line with the clock flashing a potentially legendary mark.

Behind him, South Africa’s rising star Thapelo Ramokhoase delivered one of the finest races of his young career. The 22-year-old clocked an outstanding personal best of 28:33 to secure second place, confirming his growing status as one of the country’s most promising road runners. His composed effort against a world-class field highlighted both maturity and enormous potential for the future.

Completing the podium was fellow South African Cwenga Nose, who dipped comfortably under the 29-minute barrier with a strong 28:59 performance. His determined finish capped a high-quality race that showcased the depth of distance running talent currently emerging on the African circuit.

Men’s 10K Podium – 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon

1. Maxime Chaumeton — 27:41 (Pending official confirmation | New Course Record)

2. Thapelo Ramokhoase — 28:33 (Personal Best)

3. Cwenga Nose — 28:59

The electric atmosphere throughout Cape Town added another layer to an already memorable occasion, with thousands of fans witnessing a race that blended elite international quality with inspiring local performances.

If officially confirmed, Chaumeton’s run will go down as one of the defining moments in the recent history of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 10K, further elevating the event’s growing reputation on the global road racing calendar.

Ethiopia’s Telahun Haile Bekele set a course record to win the men’s race, while Italy’s Nadia Battocletti retained her women’s race crown at the BOclassic Alto Adige, a World Athletics Label road race, on Tuesday (31).

Bekele ran 27:59 to become the first athlete to break 28 minutes for this 10km race and home favourite Battocletti clocked 15:31 to repeat her 5km victory from the previous year.

After the start at Waltherplatz, a group of five athletes remained together in the men’s race, with Bekele joined by Italy’s Yeman Crippa, Kenya’s Charles Rotich, South Africa’s Maxime Chaumeton and Morocco’s Soufiyan Bouqantar.

Bouqantar had to let his rivals go on the fourth lap and Chaumeton dropped out on the fifth loop. That left the trio of Bekele, Crippa and Rotich in contention. Bekele then attacked on the penultimate lap and built a lead, which he maintained on the last loop and final sprint. In the end, the 25-year-old Ethiopian set a record time of 27:59, one second faster than the mark by Sabastian Sawe in 2023. Bekele had already finished on the podium once before at the BOclassic Alto Adige as he came second in 2019.

Crippa was runner-up for the third time in a row, finishing just two seconds back. The 19-year-old Rotich completed the podium in 28:08, while Chaumeton finished fourth and two-time BOclassic winner Oscar Chelimo from Uganda finished fifth.

All eyes were on Battocletti in the women’s race. She led from start to finish, although the 20-year-old Aleshign Baweke of Ethiopia could not be shaken off and was only finally beaten on the home straight after an irresistible attack by Battocletti.

Battocletti's winning time was 15:31, four seconds faster than Baweke.

Third place went to Turkiye’s Yasemin Can who stayed on the heels of the leading duo for a long time, but had to let go on the final loop. Federica Del Buono finished in fourth place after a brilliant final lap, while Micol Majori finished in fifth place.

Leading results

Women

1 Nadia Battocletti (ITA) 15:31

2 Aleshign Baweke (ETH) 15:35

3 Yasemin Can (TUR) 16:05

4 Federica Del Buono (ITA) 16:07

5 Micol Majori (ITA) 16:11

Men

1⁠ ⁠Telahun Haile Bekele (ETH) 27:59

2 ⁠Yeman Crippa (ITA) 28:01

3⁠ ⁠Charles Rotich (KEN) 28:08

4 ⁠Maxime Chaumeton (RSA) 28:27

5 ⁠Oscar Chelimo (UGA) 28:43