Cork's Darragh McElhinney 'proud' as he breaks Irish 5k record

Breaking the Irish record was one of McElhinney's main aims at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen

Bantry AC's Darragh McElhinney broke Alistair Cragg's Irish 5k record by four seconds as he ran 13:22 in Copenhagen. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Darragh McElhinney produced a record-breaking performance on the opening day of the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen today, smashing the Irish 5k record with a superb 13:22 as he finished 16th.

The Bantry AC athlete bettered the 13:26 set by Alistair Cragg in 2012, while also improving significantly on his own previous best of 13:33 from 2025.

McElhinney’s performance came in a high-quality men’s 5k race won by Eritrea’s Dawit Seare in 12:56.

"The national record of 13:26 was one of the main aims for me today," said McElhinney.

"It was a little bit difficult as it was windy out there and I think that affected all the times. I probably had to race a little more conservatively than I would have liked, but I think I was pretty much running 2:40s (per kilometre) the whole way. 

"With the wind in the first two-and-a-half kilometres, you were expending quite a lot of energy without having a lot to show for it on the clock, but I’m really proud of how I ran. I ran well, I was in decent company there, it is probably my best run of the summer… and happy to finish on a high note”.

Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock AC) was the second of the Irish pair home, crossing the finish in 13:48 as he placed 38th.

Sarah Healy and Laura Nicholson were both in action in the women’s mile earlier in the day. Healy (UCD AC) led the Irish challenge in the opening race of the championships, finishing 13th in 4:32.98. She was followed home by Nicholson (Bandon AC), who crossed in 4:36.64 to finish 21st.

France’s Agathe Guillemot claimed the world title with a world-leading performance of 4:22.74.

Olympian Cathal Doyle (Clonliffe Harriers) was the leading Irish finisher in the men’s mile, crossing the line in 18th place in 3:58.40. European 1500m bronze medallist Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC) finished 41st in 4:07.95. Germany’s Robert Farken claimed the world title with a world-leading 3:51.80.