Ben St Lawrence has this afternoon smashed the Australian 10,000m record at the Stanford Payton Jordan Invitational in California (USA), with the New South Welshman clocking a world championships qualifier 27:24.95.

Eclipsing the previous record of 27:29.73 held by Collis Birmingham, St Lawrence was third overall and joined on the podium by eventual winner Bedan Karoki (27:13.67) and American Bobby Curtis (27:24.67), who in December placed third in the Zatopek:10.

“My results these past few months have been pretty mixed and to be honest my training has been up and down so this is a real thrill,” St Lawrence said.

“Tonight though I was just feeling stronger and stronger, I was hoping for a qualifier and was pushing for it mid-race.

“I really picked up on the back straight in the last lap and just made a bee line for home – it’s fair to say I’m pretty happy.”

St Lawrence is the Australian 5000m and 10,000m champion and his time today is his first 10,000m world championships qualifier and his first sub-28 minute run. It comes two weeks after being named in the men’s 5000m for the IAAF world championships this August.

A world championships and Commonwealth Games representative, St Lawrence is a rising star of Australia’s distance ranks.

“Congratulations to Ben and his coach Sean Williams,” Tim O’Shaughnessy, Athletics Australia National Distance Coordinator, said.

“He has continued his great Australian domestic season form and absolutely flew home to show his class on the world stage.”

Providing a second fantastic result for Australian middle distance running, Eloise Wellings also crossed the line in a world championships qualifier in the women’s 10,000m.

Stopping the clock at 31.41.31, the Commonwealth Games representative Wellings was seventh overall, with her personal best time launching her to fourth on the Australian All-Time List for the event.

“Eloise’s performance was equally impressive, especially across those closing few laps,” O’Shaughnessy said.

“Her last four or five (laps) were very strong and she judged what she was capable of heading into those closing stages when the pace picked up very well.”

The eventual winner was Kenyan Sally Kipyego (30:38.35) who shared the pace for the whole race with local favourite Shalane Flanagan (30:39.57). Japanese athlete Kayoko Fukushi (30:54.29) was third.

Australia’s international charge now moves to Shizuoka (JPN) as eight athletes get set to take to the track or field on Tuesday, May 3.

Returning to the blocks after a 11.27 (w: +2.6) 100m dash to win in Hiroshima (JPN) on Friday, Melissa Breen will start the women’s 200m in fine form. Joining her in the Land of the Rising Sun are Matt  Davies (200m), Linda Allen (long jump), Jessica Penney (long jump), Kevin Moore (400m), James Gurr (800m), Brendan Cole (400m hurdles) and Lauren Boden (400m hurdles).

Athletics Australia