RIGA, Latvia (Oct. 01) — American runner Hobbs Kessler set a World Record (WR) in the men’s road mile at the World Athletics event in Riga, Latvia. Kessler, 20, clocked an impressive 3:56.13 win the gold medal at the World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga 23 here on Sunday.
In a thrilling finish that was decided in the final meters of the race, the first nine men packed across the finishing line some two seconds apart, with a delighted Kessler leading a strong showing for the United States.
Read more: Full Results of Men’s 5km at World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga
Samuel Prakel, 28, another American, and former world record-holder, finished third with a Personal Best (PB) of 3:56.43. The silver medal went to Great Britain’s Callum Elson, 24, who also ran a PB of 3:56.41.
The race was a spectacle of shattered records and personal bests. The top 11 finishers broke four minutes at the Riga 23, while, in total, 35 athletes set new personal bests, making this one of the most competitive road miles in history.
World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga 23 – Results and Report
Notable Performances and Highlights – Hobbs Kessler set a World Record
- World Record (WR): Hobbs Kessler (USA) – 3:56.13
- Championships Record (CR): Kieran Lumb (CAN) – 3:56.98
- Personal Bests (PB): Callum Elson (GBR) – 3:56.41, Samuel Prakel (USA) – 3:56.43, Maël Gouyette (FRA) – 3:56.57, Ryan Mphahlele (RSA) – 3:57.35, Giovanni Filippi (ITA) – 3:57.41, Benoit Campion (FRA) – 3:57.62, Yobiel Weldrufael (ERI) – 3:57.94, Jack Anstey (AUS) – 3:58.30, Teddese Lemi (ETH) – 3:59.40, Matthew Ramsden (AUS) – 4:00.32, Kyumbe Munguti (KEN) – 4:00.67, Salim Abu Mayanja (UGA) – 4:00.72, Keneth Kiprop (UGA) – 4:00.77, Ryoji Tatezawa (JPN) – 4:01.26, Santtu Heikkinen (FIN) – 4:01.35, Guilherme Kurtz (BRA) – 4:02.75, Natnael Teklesenbet (ERI) – 4:03.18, Yusuke Takahashi (JPN) – 4:03.32, Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot (KEN) – 4:05.91, Christoffer Frost Johansen (DEN) – 4:06.54, Mohamed Attaoui (ESP) – 4:06.59, Gonzalo García (ESP) – 4:07.81, Mohad Abdikadar Sheik Ali (ITA) – 4:11.60, Andrzej Kowalczyk (POL) – 4:12.70, Olavi Allase (EST) – 4:14.18, Deniss Šalkauskas (EST) – 4:16.02, Nikita Bogdanovs (LAT) – 4:18.90, Filip Ostrowski (POL) – 4:19.49, Robert Heppenstall (CAN) – 4:27.96, Seng Tou Ip (MAC) – 4:31.44, Ethan Yan (SGP) – 4:32.44
USA Runners
- Hobbs Kessler: 1st Place – 3:56.13 (WR, CR, WL)
- Samuel Prakel: 3rd Place – 3:56.43 (PB)
Highlights
- World Record (WR): Hobbs Kessler (USA) – 3:56.13
- Championships Record (CR): Kieran Lumb (CAN) – 3:56.98
- World Leading (WL): Hobbs Kessler (USA) – 3:56.13
- Personal Bests (PB): 35 athletes set new personal bests, including Samuel Prakel (USA) – 3:56.43
USA Runners
- Hobbs Kessler: 1st Place – 3:56.13 (WR, CR, WL)
- Samuel Prakel: 3rd Place – 3:56.43 (PB)
Full Results
- Hobbs Kessler (USA) – 3:56.13 (WR, CR, WL)
- Callum Elson (GBR) – 3:56.41 (PB)
- Samuel Prakel (USA) – 3:56.43 (PB)
- Maël Gouyette (FRA) – 3:56.57 (PB)
- Kieran Lumb (CAN) – 3:56.98 (CR)
- Ryan Mphahlele (RSA) – 3:57.35 (PB)
- Giovanni Filippi (ITA) – 3:57.41 (PB)
- Benoit Campion (FRA) – 3:57.62 (PB)
- Yobiel Weldrufael (ERI) – 3:57.94 (PB)
- Jack Anstey (AUS) – 3:58.30 (PB)
- Teddese Lemi (ETH) – 3:59.40 (PB)
- Matthew Ramsden (AUS) – 4:00.32 (PB)
- Kyumbe Munguti (KEN) – 4:00.67 (PB)
- Salim Abu Mayanja (UGA) – 4:00.72 (PB)
- Keneth Kiprop (UGA) – 4:00.77 (PB)
- Ryoji Tatezawa (JPN) – 4:01.26 (PB)
- Santtu Heikkinen (FIN) – 4:01.35 (PB)
- Guilherme Kurtz (BRA) – 4:02.75 (PB)
- Natnael Teklesenbet (ERI) – 4:03.18 (PB)
- Yusuke Takahashi (JPN) – 4:03.32 (PB)
- Andreas Lindgreen (DEN) – 4:05.27
- Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot (KEN) – 4:05.91 (PB)
- Christoffer Frost Johansen (DEN) – 4:06.54 (PB)
- Mohamed Attaoui (ESP) – 4:06.59 (PB)
- Gonzalo García (ESP) – 4:07.81 (PB)
