Gulveer Singh shatters 5,000m national record with second-place finish at LA Track Fest

Indian distance runner Gulveer Singh made history by setting a new national record in the men's 5000m outdoor event, winning silver with a time of 13:03.93 at the Sound Running Track Fest in Los Angeles, USA, according to the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

Gulveer finished second with a time of 13:03.93 behind New Mexico's Habtom Samuel, who won in 12:57.22. Australia's Jackson Sharp came third with the timing of 13:05.22.

Notably, Gulveer's personal best of 12:59.77 still stands, having been achieved in an indoor competition, which he achieved at the Boston University Terrier DMR Challenge 2025 in the USA. Meanwhile, his time of 13:03.93 is a national record in outdoor competitions.

Notably, Gulveer improved his own national record by nearly eight seconds, lowering it from 13:11.82 set in Japan in September 2024.

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Earlier this year, Gulveer, 27, clocked 59:42 to finish third at the New York City Half Marathon 2026, becoming the first Indian to complete a half-marathon in under one hour. The previous national record of 1:00:30 was set by steeplechase specialist Avinash Sable in 2020 at the Delhi Half Marathon.

Gulveer is the first Indian distance runner to hold multiple national records, ranging from the 3,000m track to the 25km road race. The Asian Games medallist also holds the men's 5,000m and 10,000m track records.

Gulveer also had a good run at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships, winning both the 5,000m and 10,000m track races. This year, he is confident of a podium finish at both the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July and the Asian Games in September.