After 29 years
Track and field athlete clearly breaks German ancient record
Updated March 29, 2026 – 12:32 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Mohamed Abdilaahi beats a decades-old German record at the meeting in California. A second German runner was also close.
German long-distance runner Mohamed Abdilaahi broke a record that stood for almost three decades at the meeting in San Juan Capistrano. With 26:56.58 minutes over 10,000 meters on the track, he beat Dieter Baumann’s record from 1997 by more than 24 seconds – and won the race. “I’m super happy and just grateful that it worked so well,” said Abdilaahi.
The new record has yet to be confirmed. “That’s great, everything has to fit. He should enjoy it,” Baumann told the German Press Agency. For the 61-year-old, the record came “with an announcement”. “There’s something really great about him: such impudence, something crazy. He approaches racing without setting any limits for himself. Otherwise you’re just limiting yourself,” said Baumann about the Mönchengladbach native, whose parents come from Somalia.
Baumann, who got to know Abdilaahi as a “young guy,” also formulates a certain expectation. “I would like him to translate these times into races where medals are at stake. Because records are fleeting, titles last.” At the 2025 World Cup in Tokyo, Abdilaahi missed the 5,000 meter final. Baumann was informed about the broken record by telephone from his wife Isabelle, who was there as a trainer in the USA.
Baumann set his best time of 27:21.53 minutes on April 5, 1997 in Barakaldo, Spain; five years earlier he had become Olympic champion in the 5,000 meters in Barcelona. At the beginning of the year, Abdilaahi improved marathon runner-up Amanal Petros’ 10,000 meter road record in Valencia.
Also in the USA, obstacle specialist Frederik Ruppert ran close to the old Baumanns brand. He finished eighth in 27:24.53 minutes – three seconds slower than the Olympic champion’s best time.
