COPENHAGEN, DENMARK — Singapore distance runner Shaun Goh etched his name deeper into the record books on Saturday, clocking a blistering 14:47 at the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 2026 to establish a new Singapore men’s 5km road national record.
The milestone performance shaves two seconds off his own previous national benchmark of 14:49, which he clocked at the 2025 Gold Coast Marathon race weekend in Australia.
Competing on the streets of the Danish capital against an elite global field, Goh stood shoulder-to-shoulder with distance-running heavyweights such as Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen and European record-holder Jimmy Gressier.
Overcoming Headwinds on the World Stage
Lining up for his third career World Athletics championship appearance, the Team Singapore athlete showed poise and composure despite challenging conditions along the exposed Danish route.
Reflecting on the surreal atmosphere of toeing the line alongside the sport’s biggest stars, Goh shared:
“Racing here today was definitely a surreal experience, lining up with guys like we see on TV, like Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Jimmy Gressier. This is my third World’s event so I felt better, less nerves.”
While tactical execution was paramount against a relentless breeze, Goh balanced pride in the outcome with an athlete's ambition to push boundaries further:
“For the race itself, I’m really happy that I got a PB and I managed to get the national record. I was trying for a better time, and to run under 14:40. However, given the conditions (strong head wind) I’m very proud of how I executed my race.”
Photo: Betterment Sports / Meryl Ho
World Athletics Road Running Championships 2026 Underway
The 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships, staged across the weekend of 19 to 20 September in Copenhagen, marks the premier global road-racing gathering of the year.
The action-packed schedule features three core distances:
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Saturday, 19 September: Road Mile and 5km Elite & Mass Races
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Sunday, 20 September: Half Marathon Championship
With Goh setting the tone on Day 1, Singapore's distance running contingent continues to show strong momentum on the international circuit.