Guillemot runs a European record 4:22.74 and Farken 3:51.80 for world road mile gold

The World Athletics Road Running Championships opened in Copenhagen on Saturday with two road miles on the same out-and-back course: down Østerbrogade, around a turn and home past Parken Stadium. Both were won from behind at almost the same spot.

Agathe Guillemot sat in a pack that passed 800 m in 2:18 and the turn at about 2:44, moved to the front with 3:57 on the clock and kicked to a European record of 4:22.74, fourth on the all-time list. Jemma Reekie had set the old record of 4:23.25 in Düsseldorf earlier this month. Freweyni Hailu was second in 4:24.35, as she was at the first championships in Riga three years ago, Mirriam Cherop third in 4:25.71, and Denmark's Annemarie Nissen fourth in a best of 4:26.78. It was Guillemot's third major weekend in a row after Brussels and Budapest, and her first individual global title.

Twenty minutes later Yared Nuguse went straight to the front of the men's race and stretched the field into a line. Robert Farken followed in third, caught him on the return along Østerbrogade and won in 3:51.80, a German record, the fastest road mile this year and second ever behind Elliot Giles' 3:51.3. Nuguse held on for silver in 3:52.33. Ruben Querinjean, better known as a steeplechaser, ran a Luxembourg record of 3:52.77 for bronze, the country's first global senior medal for a man since Josy Barthel's Olympic 1500 m gold in 1952. Farken trains with Nuguse in Boulder; they had shared an apartment for four days before the race. The United States won the mixed team title.

A mile with a hairpin in it, and two winners who waited for the same spot. Patience is a tactic.

Sources: World Athletics; World Athletics; Athletics Weekly.