Gulveer Singh breaks 5000m outdoor NR with silver at LA Track Festival
Synopsis
Gulveer Singh sliced nearly 8 seconds off his own 5000m outdoor national record at the LA Track Festival, clocking 13:03.93 for silver. Already the first Indian to go sub-60 in the half marathon this year, he is building a case as the most versatile distance runner India has ever produced — and he is targeting the podium at both the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in 2026.
Key Takeaways
Gulveer Singh clocked 13:03.93 at the LA Track Festival on 24 May 2026 , setting a new 5000m outdoor national record .
He finished second behind Habtom Samuel of Eritrea ( 12:57.22 ), winning a silver medal.
The new mark betters his previous outdoor record of 13:11.82 set in Japan in September 2024 .
Gulveer holds national records in 3000m , 5000m , and 10,000m and is the reigning Asian champion in both the 5000m and 10,000m.
Earlier in 2026, he became the first Indian to run a sub-60 half marathon, clocking 59:42 at the NYC Half Marathon .
He targets podium finishes at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games (July) and Asian Games (September) in 2026.
Indian distance runner Gulveer Singh rewrote his own 5000m outdoor national record on 24 May 2026, clocking 13:03.93 to claim a silver medal at the LA Track Festival in Los Angeles. The Army athlete finished behind Habtom Samuel of Eritrea, who won in 12:57.22, but the performance erased Gulveer's previous outdoor mark of 13:11.82 set in Japan in September 2024.
The Record-Breaking Run
Gulveer trimmed nearly 8 seconds off his earlier national record in a single outing — a substantial margin in elite distance running. The Sound Running Track Fest in Los Angeles served as the venue, and the result confirms that Gulveer, currently training out of Colorado Springs in the USA, is operating at a new level of consistency on the international circuit.
The Indian Army Sports and Adventure unit acknowledged the feat on social media platform X, writing: 'Indian Army Athlete strikes again on the global stage! Nb Sub Gulveer Singh of Army Sports Institute delivered a sensational performance at the Sound Running Track Fest, Los Angeles (24 May 2026). Silver Medal in Men's 5000m, New National Record — 13:03.93. Breaking his own previous National Record of 13:11.82 set in Japan (Sep 2024), the Army runner continues to redefine Indian distance running with grit, discipline and determination.'
A Record-Holder Across Multiple Distances
Gulveer is the first Indian distance runner to simultaneously hold national records across a range spanning from the 3,000m track to the 25km road race. He currently owns national records in the 3000m, 5000m, and 10,000m — a feat unmatched in Indian athletics history. He is also the reigning Asian champion in both the 5000m and 10,000m, having swept both titles at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships.
A Packed and Productive 2026 Season
This LA outing was Gulveer's fourth competitive appearance of 2026. He opened his season with a 40th-place finish in the senior men's race at the World Cross Country Championships in January, followed by a third-place finish in the 5000m short track at the Sound Running Invite in Winston-Salem, USA, in February.
In March 2026, he became the first Indian to complete a half marathon in under 60 minutes, clocking 59:42 at the NYC Half Marathon in New York — finishing third behind Olympians Adriaan Wildschutt of South Africa (59:30) and Zouhair Talbi of the USA (59:41). That run eclipsed the previous Indian half marathon record of 1:00:30 set by Avinash Sable at the 2020 Delhi Half Marathon.
What Lies Ahead
Gulveer has expressed confidence in a podium finish at both the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July 2026 and the Asian Games in September 2026. With two national records already rewritten this calendar year and peak form arriving ahead of the major multi-sport events, the trajectory is hard to argue with.
Point of View
And 2026 is making that case event by event. Two national records rewritten in three months, across disciplines as different as the road half marathon and the track 5000m, suggest this is not a hot streak but a structural step-up. The real question is whether Indian athletics infrastructure — coaching, altitude training access, competition scheduling — can keep pace with an athlete who is clearly outgrowing it. With the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games both on the horizon, the next few months will test not just Gulveer's fitness but the system behind him.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What national record did Gulveer Singh break at the LA Track Festival?
Gulveer Singh broke his own 5000m outdoor national record, clocking 13:03.93 on 24 May 2026 at the LA Track Festival in Los Angeles. His previous outdoor mark was 13:11.82, set in Japan in September 2024.
Where did Gulveer Singh finish at the LA Track Festival 5000m?
Gulveer Singh finished second, winning a silver medal. He was beaten only by Habtom Samuel of Eritrea, who won in 12:57.22.
How many national records does Gulveer Singh hold?
Gulveer Singh currently holds Indian national records in the 3000m, 5000m, and 10,000m track events, as well as records spanning up to the 25km road race. He is the first Indian distance runner to hold multiple records across that range.
What other major performance did Gulveer Singh produce in 2026?
In March 2026, Gulveer became the first Indian to complete a half marathon in under 60 minutes, clocking 59:42 at the NYC Half Marathon. He finished third, behind Olympians Adriaan Wildschutt of South Africa and Zouhair Talbi of the USA.
What are Gulveer Singh's targets for the rest of 2026?
Gulveer Singh is targeting podium finishes at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July 2026 and the Asian Games in September 2026. He is the reigning Asian champion in both the 5000m and 10,000m.
