Cheserek ties 5K world record

Edward Cheserek of Kenya is one of the most decorated track and field athletes in NCAA history, winning 17 national titles. On Sunday, Cheserek tied the world’s best 5K time in Carlsbad, California. He ran a 13:29 to tie the IAAF world record and take the win in the Carlsbad 5,000.

Edward Cheserek crossing the finish for the win! #Carlsbad5000 pic.twitter.com/eFqdEZInTu

— Carlsbad 5000 (@Carlsbad_5000) April 7, 2019

Since he graduated in 2017, the runner hasn’t been able to obtain a green card. The 5,000m runner competed for the University of Oregon on a student visa and obtained a P1 visa in January of 2018, which allowed him to continue training in Flagstaff, Arizona for one year. His application to extend that visa is still under review.

RELATED: 17-time NCAA champion Edward Cheserek struggles to obtain American citizenship

Cheserek is tied for the top position in the world with Swizterland’s Julian Wanders, who took also Mo Farah’s European half-marathon record earlier this year. Wanders ran 59:13, besting Farah’s previous record by 21 seconds.

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RELATED: 22-year-old smashes Mo Farah’s European half-marathon record

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Interestingly, Flotrack reports that while Cheserek tied the IAAF recognized 5K world record, the course record is much faster–a shocking 13:00, which was run by Sammy Kipketer in 2000. As the IAAF didn’t begin recording 5K world record times until November of 2017, the marks that came before that date aren’t eligible for record ratification.