Seare outkicks Ingebrigtsen to claim world 5km title in Copenhagen

Dawit Seare wins the 5km in Copenhagen (© World Athletics Gaelle Mobuchon)

Dawit Seare produced a superb late surge to deny Jakob Ingebrigtsen and claim the men’s 5km title at the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26 on Saturday (19).

The Eritrean – who won the African 5000m title earlier this year – overtook Ingebrigtsen in the closing stages of a fiercely contested race, crossing the line in a national record of 12:56. Ingebrigtsen, who briefly looked to have made the decisive move, followed three seconds later in a Norwegian record of 12:59, while Seare’s teenage teammate Saymon Amanuel completed the podium in a PB of 13:00.

For Seare, who finished fourth at the inaugural World Road Running Championships in Riga three years ago while still a teenager, victory completed his progression to the top of the global podium.

The early stages, though, belonged to France. Mediterranean Games 1500m champion Flavien Szot darted to the front shortly after the start and immediately injected pace into the race. His teammate Jimmy Gressier, who had run a European record of 12:51 in Lille earlier this year, positioned himself just behind alongside Ethiopia’s Addisu Yihune and Kenyan youngster Charles Kiboino.

Ingebrigtsen, meanwhile, was happy to sit in the middle of the pack and monitor proceedings. Szot led through the opening kilometre in 2:38, with Gressier tucked behind him, and the two-kilometre point was reached in 5:20. Soon afterwards Szot stepped off the course, his early effort having effectively served as a pacemaking stint at the front.

Gressier then assumed control, with Yihune and Amanuel closest behind. The race was beginning to change by the approach to 3km. Ingebrigtsen had moved steadily through the field and was now about seventh, while Gressier surrendered the lead to Amanuel. Kiboino remained prominent, as did Seare, who had kept himself within striking distance throughout.

As the leading group approached four kilometres, Ethiopia’s Mezgebu Sime made the next significant move, charging into the lead shortly before the checkpoint, which was reached in about 10:20.

His advantage lasted barely a minute, as Seare came through to take command as the field prepared for the long finishing drive, while Ingebrigtsen had now worked his way into second.

The Norwegian was racing on his 26th birthday and seeking another global title just eight days after winning the 5000m at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest. Copenhagen was only his second road 5km and his third consecutive weekend of major championship racing.

With about 30 seconds of running remaining, Ingebrigtsen moved past Seare and into the lead. For a few moments, it appeared that the Olympic 5000m champion had timed his move perfectly. But Seare was not finished.

The Eritrean responded almost immediately, finding another gear as the line approached. He drew back alongside Ingebrigtsen before pulling clear in the final metres, breaking the tape in a national record of 12:56.

Ingebrigtsen held on for silver in 12:59, improving significantly on the 13:28 he had run in his only previous road 5km six years ago. Amanuel, still only 19, capped an excellent day for Eritrea by taking bronze in 13:00.

Australia’s Ky Robinson finished just outside the medals, clocking an Oceanian record of 13:04. The 2025 world indoor 3000m bronze medallist had arrived in Copenhagen after winning the Commonwealth 10,000m title, finishing second over 5000m and placing ninth at the Ultimate Championship.

Uganda’s Keneth Kiprop matched Robinson’s 13:04 with a PB in fifth, followed by Yihune in 13:07 and Sime in a season’s best of 13:08.

1 Dawit Seare (ERI) 12:562 Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 12:593 Saymon Amanuel (ERI) 13:004 Ky Robinson (AUS) 13:045 Keneth Kiprop (UGA) 13:046 Addisu Yihune (ETH) 13:077 Mezgebu Sime (ETH) 13:088 Mathew Kipchumba Kipsang (KEN) 13:119 Egide Ntakarutimana (BDI) 13:1210 Maxime Chaumeton (RSA) 13:13