Davies delivers bronze on opening day of World Road Running Championships

Middle-distance star Rose Davies has bolted to bronze on the opening day of the World Athletics Road Running Championships, creating history alongside Ky Robinson and Oliver Hoare who also shattered long-standing Australian records.

Davies (NSW, Scott Westcott), a New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athlete, headlined the action on a day that featured three national records, two team medals and her own individual medal, as Australia made its mark at the second instalment of the World Athletics Road Running Championships.

Racing in the Women’s 5km, Davies found herself detached from podium contention after two kilometres as the leading trio poured on the pace, but the dual Commonwealth champion hung tough and refused to let the gap grow.

The leaders would return to Davies in the final kilometre and she rallied home for bronze in a time of 14:50 which lowered Benita Willis’ national record of 14:59, as the race was won by World Ultimate champion Likina Amebaw (ETH) in 14:41.

“When racing, you have to adjust and you just have to push to stay in line. I knew if I lasted until the last 500m, I would have a chance,” Davies said.

“There were three girls going for the bronze medal and I didn’t want to come in fifth. So I just gave all I had. It is my last race of the season and I just had to empty the tank.

“It was hard right from the start and I had to keep telling myself that I could do it. I kept saying to myself come on, come on!”

Georgia Griffith (VIC, Nic Bideau) made it an Australian one-two punch in the event, finishing in seventh place in 15:01. 

Commonwealth champion Ky Robinson (QLD, Dathan Ritzenhein) added to the 5km action when shaving 16-seconds off Craig Mottram’s Australian record, blazing to fourth place in a time of 13:04.

The turbulent affair saw various leaders surge to the front of the field, taking the sting out of Robinson’s legs, but ultimately it was Dawit Seare (ERI) who clinched the win in 12:56 as the Australian closed strongly and teammate Toby Gillen (VIC, Craig Mottram) finished in 25^th with a time of 13:35.

The quartet secured silver as part of the teams competition across the Men’s and Women’s 5km.

Setting a new Oceania record, Oliver Hoare (NSW, Dathan Ritzenhein) flashed home for sixth place in the Men’s Road Mile with a time of 3:53.65, which was won by his training partner Robert Farken (GER) in 3:51.80.

The race was hot from the start as Yared Nuguse (USA) pushed the tempo before fading to second place, as Hoare bided his time and was closely followed trailed teammate Jude Thomas (QLD, Collis Birmingham) in ninth place in 3:54.92.

“I was hoping to do a complete medal sweep with my training partners, Robert [Farken] and Yared [Nuguse], but I ended up sixth but I’m still very grateful for my result and run,” Hoare said.

Hoare’s performance could only be topped by his mum, Kate, who took out first place in the Women’s 60-65 category in the mass participation race.

“I’m going to spend some time with my Mum, she flew in from Australia and I think she just finished the one mile too,” Hoare said.

“We will talk about the race and the running in the streets; it was an amazing experience here in Copenhagen!”

Linden Hall (VIC, Ned Brophy-Williams) led proceedings in the Women’s Road Mile when claiming seventh place in a time of 4:29.36, followed by Sarah Billings (VIC, Nic Bideau) in 12^th with a time of 4:32.68.

The race was won by Agathe Guillemot (FRA) in 4:22.74, with the Australian duo’s results contributing to the team silver medal across the two Road Mile races.

The 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships will continue in Copenhagen, Denmark tomorrow where the Half Marathon will take place.