In his first sub-28-minute run, St Lawrence pipped Collis Burmingham’s old record of 27:29.73 by just under five seconds, running 27:24.95 at the Stanford Payton Jordan Invitational in California.

“My results these past few months have been pretty mixed and to be honest my training has been up and down so this is a real thrill,” St Lawrence said.

“Tonight though I was just feeling stronger and stronger, I was hoping for a qualifier and was pushing for it mid-race.

I really picked up on the back straight in the last lap and just made a bee line for home – it’s fair to say I’m pretty happy.”

Ben St Lawrence has also qualified for the 5000m at the IAAF world championships this August.

In the women’s 10,000m, Eloise Welling’s also ran a world championships qualifier with a personal best time of 31:41.31.

She finished strong to place seventh overall, podium positions going to Kenyan Sally Kipyego (30:38.35), American Shalane Flanagan (30:39.57) and Kayoko Fukushi of Japan (30:54.29).

“Her last four or five (laps) were very strong and she judged what she was capable of heading into those closing stages when the pace picked up very well,” said Tim O’Shaughnessy, Athletics Australia National Distance Coordinator.

Runner’s World Australia & New Zealand is a magazine and website that informs, advises, and motivates runners of all ages and abilities. Visit us www.runnersworldonline.com.au