The World Athletics Road Running Championships was a record-breaking weekend for Oceania Athletes on the streets of Copenhagen

Image: Dan Vernon for World Athletics

The beginning of the Record Rampage was on the day 1 in the Men’s Road Mile Australia’s Oliver Hoare broke the Oceania and Australia Road Mile Record in 3:53.65 eclipsing Adam Spencer’s (AUS) Oceania record set earlier in the month. New Zealand’s Sam Tanner breaking the New Zealand Road Mile Record in 3:56.01 in 12th previously held by Geordie Beamish. In the Women’s Race Linden Hall, the first Oceania Athlete home in 7th for #2 on the all-time Oceania top lists.

Team Australia of Oliver Hoare, Jude Thomas, Linden Hall and Sarah Billings taking the Team Silver behind the United States of America.

Speaking after the race Hoare (AUS) said: “I was hoping to do a complete medal sweep with my teammates, Robert and Yared, but I ended up sixth but I’m still very grateful for my result and run … It was fantastic to run here in Copenhagen. I’m going to spend some time with my mum, she flew in from Australia, and I think she just finished the one mile too.”

The Women’s Road 5km was all about Rose Davies (AUS) who stepped onto another International Podium crossing the line 3rd in a new Oceania and Australian Record of 14:50, shattering Benita Willis Johnson’s (AUS) previous record. Speaking after her race. “I’m super stoked. I just had to hold on and I held on for about one kilometre. When racing, you have to joust. And you just have to push to stay in line, and I knew if I lasted until the last 500 meters, I would have a chance. I gave all I had for the last 500 meters. There were three girls going for the bronze I didn’t want to come in fifth. So I just gave all I had.”.

In the Men’s Road 5km saw Ky Robinson break Craig Mottram’s long-standing Oceania and Australian Road 5km Record running 13:04 for 4th Team Australia once again step onto the podium taking home the Silver Medal behind team Ethiopia, the team comprising of Rose Davies, Georgia Griffith, Ky Robinson, and Toby Gillen.  

Day 2 was the for the Half Marathon with the Elite Fields taking to the Streets ahead of the  45,000 mass participants. New Zealand’s Georgie Grgec was the first Oceania Athlete home in 1:09:17 just outside her PB and on her black singlet debut. In the Men’s Race Oceania Half Marathon Champion Edward Marks (AUS) was the first Oceania Athlete home in 1:01:50.

Federated States of Micronesia Athlete Simeon Jacob broke the FSM National Half Marathon Record running 1:14:55 for 119th Place. Speaking after the race “This is the 1st time that we had representation at the world stage in over 20 years, I am glad that we could make it count. Thank you Copenhagen for your amazing energy and fast course”

Three Medals, Three Area Records, Five National Records, and all Member Federations breaking a National Record, a wonderful celebration of running in Copenhagen to round out the World Athletics Series Events for 2026.

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