Mekdes Woldu shatters the French 10 km record with a time of 31:01 in Tokyo
On Saturday, May 3, at the Tokyo: Speed: Race organized by ASICS and World Athletics, Mekdes Woldu achieved an astounding time of 31:01, setting a new French 10 km record. The athlete from EFCVO now holds the national records for 10 km, half marathon, and marathon.
An ultra-fast course in the heart of Tokyo, international-level pacemakers, wavelights along the route, and the release of the new ASICS METASPEED : the Japanese brand went all out for this unique event, creating an ideal playground for the athletes. On the agenda were two races: a 5 km and a 10 km.
| Mekdes Woldu at the peak of her game
From the start, the French runner chose to let the lead group go and focus on her own pace. It was a smart decision: she maintained a high tempo from start to finish. With a time of 31:01 (3:06/km), the athlete from Entente Franconville Cesame Val d’Oise finished sixth in this highly competitive 10 km and, more importantly, set a new French record, beating the previous mark held by Liv Westphal and Sarah Madeleine (31:15).
After her French marathon record set in February in Barcelona (2:23:13), Mekdes Woldu further confirms her dominance in French long-distance running.
The race was won by Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek in 30:22, followed by Djibouti’s Samiyah Hassan Nour (30:44) and Australia’s Isobel Batt-Doyle (30:44), both setting national records.
“I am so, so, so happy! Proud of myself and what I accomplished today.
Really thrilled! The race went very well. Fortunately, my legs were strong today, even though my heart rate was high; it was hot and humid, making it hard to breathe.
But my legs were fine! I ran with the METASPEED EDGE TOKYO today. It’s the same model I wore in Barcelona for the marathon.
It fits my foot really well. It’s very comfortable, fast, and dynamic. It’s super light.”
Mekdes Woldu
| European 5 km record for Nadia Battocletti
The 5 km race also delivered a spectacular show. Kenya’s Caroline Nyaga won in 14:19. Right behind her, Italian Nadia Battocletti impressed everyone with a time of 14:32, setting a new European record. Sweden’s Sarah Lahti, finishing 7th overall in 15:04, also secured a national record.
| A shower of national records in the men’s races
In the French camp, all eyes were on Étienne Daguinos. In great shape, he aimed for a time under 27 minutes, hoping to challenge the European record. Following Félix Bour’s pace, the US Talence athlete unfortunately suffered a violent fall after only 2 km, ending his race. This left Antoine Puydebois, 19 years old, who achieved an impressive 29:31, just 24 seconds off his personal best.
The race concluded with a thrilling finish. Ethiopia’s Jemal Mekonen secured victory in 27:10, ahead of Kenyans Victor Kipruto and Vincent Kibet Langat (27:11). American Abbabiya Simbassa set a national record with 27:32 (5th overall), followed by Australian Sam Clifford, also achieving a national record with a time of 27:34. On home soil, Japan’s Kyosuke Hanao excited the crowds with a new Japanese record of 28:25.
The men’s 5 km was another stage for top-level performances. Ugandan Harbert Kibet claimed victory in 13:00, ahead of Ismail Mohamed (Djibouti), who set a national record with 13:10. Samwel Nyamai Mailu (Kenya) completed the podium in 13:11, just ahead of South Africa’s Maxime Chaumeton, who also broke his country’s record with a time of 13:13. Japan’s Tomoki Ota, highly anticipated by the local crowd, achieved a commendable 13:30 (10th place), a new national record.
| A fireworks of performances
No less than 10 national records were broken this Saturday in the streets of Tokyo, and 48 athletes set personal bests. A total success for ASICS and a tremendous achievement for Mekdes Woldu, who continues to make history in French distance running across all distances.
✔ See all the results from the 5 km and 10 km of the Tokyo: Speed: Race
