In the "PSD Meet" held in Dusseldorf on February 11, an indoor meet, Isiah Koech, a 17-year-old Kenyan, ran 12:53.29 for 5,000m. Second place was Eliud Kipchoge with a 12:55.72, second best in the world so far this year. All six of the six best times in the world so far came from this race. Paul Koech of Kenya was third in 13:15.64, while American Galen Rupp was a distant fourth in a solid 13:21.
I guess finishing 28 seconds behind the winner in a 5k is distant, but still, Galen averaged around 4:17 per mile. That seems fast to me. It's only been a few years where breaking 13 minutes for the 5k has become the standard for winning international races (at least non-championship races, those seem to have more strategy to them and the times can be a bit slower). If you can't hold a 4:10.7 pace for three straight miles, you will not win.
The world records are 12:49 (set outdoors) and 12:50.38 indoors.
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