South African Sibusiso Kubheka Breaks 100K Six-Hour Barrier in Italy

South African ultrarunner Sibusiso Kubheka made history at the Adidas Chasing 100 challenge by becoming the first man to complete 100 kilometers in under six hours, finishing in 5:59:20. This performance broke the previous world record by over six minutes, although it will not be officially recognized due to race conditions including a pace car and the use of Adidas' prototype Adizero Evo Prime X shoes, which exceed World Athletics' legal stack height. The event, held at Italy's Nardò Ring, featured five elite runners equipped with bespoke Adidas gear designed to maximize speed and endurance, underscoring a fusion of athletic talent and cutting-edge technology. Alongside Kubheka, American Charlie Lawrence and Lithuanian Aleksandr Sorokin also beat the previous official record, with Lawrence setting new U.S. and North American bests. Kubheka credited Adidas' innovation and support for enabling this breakthrough, highlighting how combining elite athletes with advanced equipment can push human limits. Adidas’ Chief Creative Officer emphasized the event as a test of speed and innovation, although the new shoe model's commercial availability remains unconfirmed.