Kamworor’s world record was two back-to-back 10,000m world qualifiers

Geoffrey Kamworor ran a new half-marathon world record of 58:01 on Sunday at the Copenhagen Half-Marathon. The runner did this in reportedly sub-optimal conditions that were described as stormy. Not only did this mark smash the previous record held by Abraham Kiptum at 58:18 set in Valencia last October by 17 seconds, but it was the equivalent of running two world-standard-achieving 10,000m times, and then continuing for another 1.1K.

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The IAAF published historically difficult world and Olympic standards this spring. These standards were steep, and some high-profile runners struggled to meet them this summer, with some failing. However, Kamworor’s run was so strong that en route to his 58:18, he ran under the world 10,000m standard of 27:40, and then did it again, and then kept going to 21.1K. The new world record-holder also ran these times on the road (the standards are intended for the track which typically runs faster).

Moh Ahmed, the Canadian record-holder in the 10,000m, was the only Canadian to achieve standard within the qualifying window, and Lopez Lomong, Shadrack Kipchirchir, Leonard Korir and Kirubel Erassa were the only Americans.

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Up next for Kamworor is the 2019 New York City Marathon.