In a stunning display of speed and endurance, 19-year-old Kenyan athlete Emmanuel Wanyonyi broke the men’s road mile world record at the Adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Wanyonyi’s remarkable time of 3:54.5 surpassed the previous record of 3:56.13 held by American runner Hobbs Kessler.
Kessler, who also participated in the same race, finished closely behind Wanyonyi, securing second place with a time of 3:56.1. South Africa’s Ryan Mphahlele completed the podium with a third-place finish, clocking in at 3:56.4.
Wanyonyi’s record-setting performance is particularly noteworthy, as the road mile was officially recognized as a world record discipline in September 2023. This achievement adds an extra layer of prestige to Wanyonyi’s accomplishment, underscoring his talent as a world-class runner. The track mile world record, set by Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999 with a time of 3:43.13, remains intact, but Wanyonyi’s new record is a landmark for road racing.
Earlier in the day, Canada’s Marco Arop, who bested Wanyonyi at the World Championships in Budapest last year, clinched victory in the road 800m with a time of 1:45. Despite his loss in Budapest, Wanyonyi’s record-breaking performance indicates his remarkable potential and resilience.
In the women’s events, Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich came tantalizingly close to breaking the women-only world record for the 10km, missing it by just two seconds. Her time of 30:03 nearly equaled the record set by the late Agnes Tirop in 2021. In a touching tribute to Tirop, athletes wore limited-edition kits to honor her memory.
Adding to the record-breaking day, Medina Eisa from the world U20 category set a new record in the women’s road 5km, finishing with a time of 14:38. This is the fastest time ever recorded by an U20 athlete in this category, highlighting the exceptional talent at the event.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi’s achievement not only celebrates his personal success but also reflects the depth of talent in Kenyan athletics, with promising young athletes making their mark on the international stage.