Kenya's Leonard Komon established a German Allcomers 10K Record of 27 minutes and 12 seconds at the ASICS Grand 10 in Berlin on Sunday October 10, 2010.
While the Kenyan clearly missed his own 10 k world record of 26:44 he still achieved a world-class time of 27:12 minutes. Agnieszka Gortel (Poland) was the fastest woman in the field of 7,145 runners from 27 nations. In cool but sunny weather conditions she clocked 34:15.
The much anticipated clash between the current world record holder Leonard Komon and the previous holder of that mark, Micah Kogo (Kenya/27:01), was well won by 22 year-old Komon.
Together with fellow Kenyans Mike Kigen und Jacub Cheshari they formed an early leading group. But in the second half of the race Leonard Komon was clearly superior and clocked the fastest 10K time on German soil.
The previous German Allcomers Record had been established just one month ago, when Daniel Chebii (Kenya) had taken the Duesseldorf Koe-Race in 27:43.
Leonard Komon's Berlin time is the eleventh fastest ever run at this distance and the fourth fastest in the world this year. He is now the only athlete to have run the 10 k inside 27:15 minutes three times (26:44, 27:10 and 27:12).
"Before the race I was nut sure if I would be able to break my world record once again. But it was still a superb race and the spectators were great," said Leonard Komon, who now ends his season.
Second placed Mike Kigen also achieved a world-class time of 27:25, which additionally is a personal best for the Kenyan.
Fellow Kenyans Jacub Cheshari (28:10), Micah Kogo (28:24) and Stephen Tum (28:25) took the next places while defending champion Jan Kreisinger (Czech Republic/29:37) was sixth.
In contrast the women's race was much weaker. While Agnieszka Gortel clocked a personal best of 34:15 second placed Carina Schipp (Germany/36:30) and third placed Dawn Domaschk (USA/36:39) were well behind.