Eritrean distance runner Dawit Seare produced a stunning late surge to deny Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen and claim the men’s 5km title at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen.
For a few seconds, it appeared Jakob Ingebrigtsen had done what he so often does — timed his finishing move perfectly.
It was not enough.
Eritrea’s Dawit Seare responded in the closing metres to overtake the Norwegian and win the men’s 5km gold at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen on Saturday.
Seare clocked a national record of 12:56, while Ingebrigtsen finished second in 12:59, also a Norwegian record. Another Eritrean, 19-year-old Saymon Amanuel, completed a remarkable podium for the country with a personal best of 13:00.
The race was decided in a furious final stretch.
Seare moved into the lead with roughly a kilometre remaining after Ethiopia’s Mezgebu Sime had briefly forced the pace. Ingebrigtsen, who had spent much of the race tucked into the leading group, gradually moved through the field and eventually found himself in second.
With around 30 seconds of running left, the Norwegian made his move.
Ingebrigtsen edged past Seare and briefly looked to have secured another major championship victory. But Seare immediately responded, drawing level before pulling away in the final metres to complete one of the biggest wins of his career.
The victory continues a rapid rise for the 21-year-old Eritrean.
Seare won the African 5000m title earlier this year and had already shown his potential at the inaugural World Road Running Championships in Riga in 2023, where he finished fourth. Three years later, he has moved from just outside the podium to the top step of the world stage.
His 12:56 was not only a championship-winning performance but also an Eritrean national record.
For Ingebrigtsen, the silver came on his 26th birthday. The Norwegian arrived in Copenhagen having won the European 5000m title in August and the 5000m at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest just eight days earlier. Copenhagen was his second-ever road 5km race.
The result also highlighted the depth of Eritrea’s distance-running programme. Amanuel, only 19, ran 13:00 for bronze, becoming the second Eritrean on the podium.
Australia’s Ky Robinson finished fourth in 13:04, setting an area record, while Uganda’s Keneth Kiprop also ran 13:04 for fifth. Ethiopia’s Addisu Yihune was sixth in 13:07, with Sime seventh in 13:08.
France’s Jimmy Gressier, the European-record holder at 5km, finished 14th in 13:17 after helping set the early pace.
The women’s 5km title went to Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw, who won in 14:41, ahead of Kenya’s Caroline Makandi Gitonga in 14:48 and Australia’s Rose Davies in 14:50.
But the headline from Copenhagen belonged to Seare.
The favourite had made his move. The Eritrean had one response left.
It was enough for world gold.