Record-Breaker Gulveer Singh Becomes First Indian Runner to Break 13 Minutes Barrier in 5000m Track Race

Add as a preferred source on Google

National record holder in three different distance runs, record-breaking Gulveer Singh on Friday (February 21) became the first Indian runner to break the 13 minutes barrier in 5000 meters track race.

Gulveer achieved the feat when he clocked 12:59.77s during the heats of the 5,000m event in 2025 Boston University Terrier DMR Challenge event, which took place at the BU Track and Tennis Center.

The 26-year-old, who already held the national record in 5000m, finished fourth in the heats at the BU Terrier DMR Challenge behind third-placed Jack Rayner (12:59.43). Both Gulveer and Rayner hit the world standards at the meet along with the top two - Cole Hocker (12:57.82) and Cooper Teare (12:57.92).

Hangzhou Asian Games bronze medallist Gulveer Singh had last week made a strong start to his season, shattering a 16-year-old national record in the men's 3000m indoor race at the BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston.

The Army runner clocked 7:38.26s, finishing second in the event and surpassing the previous Indian record of 7:49.47 set in 2008 by Surendar Singh, who now works as a coach. Earlier, Gulveer set new national marks in both the 5,000m (13:11.82) and 10,000m (27:14.88) outdoor events last year.

Gulveer Singh had earlier set the 5000m national record at the Yogibo Athletics Challenge Cup 2024 in Japan, while he set the 10000m national record at the Hachioji Long Distance 2024 also in Japan.