Chaumeton breaks SA record in Spain

Distance runner Maxime Chaumeton continued his record-breaking spree on Saturday, taking down his own national mark in the 5km event on the road.

Competing at the Breakfast Run race in Seville, Spain, Chaumeton won comfortably in 13:12, clipping one second off the South African record of 13:13, which he set in Tokyo in May last year.

The 25-year-old athlete, who also holds the SA 10km record (26:55), finished well clear of the rest of the elite field in Seville.

Mohamed Ismail of Djibouti, the African 5 000m champion on the track, crossed the line 17 seconds off the pace of Chaumeton, taking second place in 13:29.

"Every second counts, so breaking a competition record of any kind in athletics is an achievement worth celebrating," said John Mathane, the Acting President of Athletics South Africa.

"We take the opportunity to congratulate Maxime, his coaching staff and support team for making this happen."