Lithuanian Aleksandr Sorokin held the previous record of 6:05:35 set in April 2022.
South Africa’s Sibusiso Kubheka has become the first runner to complete a 100km race in under six hours.
The 27-year-old long-distance runner crossed the finish line in a time of 5:59:20 during the curated race dubbed “Chasing 100” powered by apparel giant Adidas at the Nardò Ring in Italy on August 26, 2025, smashing the previous world best by over six minutes.
Lithuanian Aleksandr Sorokin set the previous record of 6:05:35 in April 2022, in the UK.
Adidas organized the event as a highlight of its 4.7-ounce Adizero Evo Prime X prototype shoes.
Each runner won the shoes, as well as a range of ClimaCool apparel that included pre-race jackets aimed to keep each runner’s core temperature as low as possible, and hyper-ventilated racing singlets and shorts.
To achieve the milestone, Kubheka ran faster than 3:36 per kilometre, outrunning four other world-class runners, with USA’s Charlie Lawrence and Sorokin coming in second and third in a time of 6:03:47 and 6:04:10 respectively.
“I’m so proud of my performance out there today,” he said as per a press release shared by Adidas after the race.
“Breaking this record and becoming the first person to run 100km in under 6 hours was not easy, but thanks to adidas’ partnership, belief and bespoke technologies, we made it happen. When we combine the best athletes, the right preparation and sports innovation, anything is possible,” he added.
Alasdhair Willis, Chief Creative Officer at Adidas hailed Kubheka for his new mark, stating that “Chasing 100” is the story of “our deep-rooted drive to go faster.”
“Kubheka’s history-defining performance, achieving something no one has ever come close to, is an immense achievement that we are incredibly proud of. This is true testament to the power of combining Adidas Innovation with the very best of athletic prowess to push the limits of human capability forwards.”
Throughout the race, the athletes not only showed resilience, but they also exhibited a high degree of strategy and determination aided by technology and athlete-led innovation.
