Germany’s Mohammed Abdilaahi became just the sixth European in history to break the 27 minute-barrier for 10,000m on the track.
Contesting his first 10,000m in four years, Abdilaahi took the victory at The TEN in San Juan Capistrano in California in 26:56.58 to shatter 1992 Olympic 5000m champion Dieter Baumann’s long-standing national record of 27:21.53 which dates back to 1997.
“I'm incredibly happy and just so grateful that it worked out so well. Valencia went really well [he clocked 27:22 in the Valencia 10K Ibercaja] and I'm not the best road runner. If I run well on the road, I'm even much, much stronger on the track. I'm slowly getting into my prime now,” said Abdilaahi as quoted by Leichtathletik.de.
Abdilaahi, who won the 5000m title at the 2021 European Athletics U23 Championships, outkicked Australia’s Ky Robinson for victory with the latter also breaking the 27 minute-barrier for the first time as well as being rewarded with an Oceanian record of 26:57.07.
Mike Foppen won the race for third, setting a Dutch record of 27:20.52. Great Britain’s Scott Beattie finished sixth in a 27:23.20 PB while German steeplechase specialist Frederik Ruppert impressed on his 10,000m debut, clocking 27:24.53 to finish eighth.
Another Brit David Mullarkey, the 5000m and 10,000m silver medallist at the 2025 World University Games, also impressed with a ninth-place finish in a lifetime best of 27:26.58.
In the women’s race won by Shelby Houlihan in 30:50.10, Germany’s Lisa Merkel was the best European in fourth in 31:32.25.
Revised European all-time men's 10,000m list
Mo Farah (GBR) – 26:46.57, 2011
Thierry Ndikumwenayo (ESP) – 26:49.49, 2024
Mohammed Mourhit (BEL) – 26:52.30, 1999
Andreas Almgren (SWE) – 26:52.87, 2024
Mohamed Abdilaahi (GER) – 26:56.58, 2026
Jimmy Gressier (FRA) – 26:58.67, 2024
Isaac Kimeli (BEL) – 27:07.97, 2024
Patrick Dever (GBR) – 27:08.81, 2024
Marc Scott (GBR) – 27:10.41, 2021
Yemaneberhan Crippa (ITA) – 27:10.76, 2019