HENGELO, Netherlands – UVU alumni Tim Rowberry coached Sifan Hassan to break a five-year-old world record in the 10,000m by 10.63 seconds, clocking 29:06.82 in Hengelo, Netherlands. Rowberry took over as Hassan's coach in 2020 and has served as an assistant coach with the UVU Cross Country team. 

"We dreamed of this race long enough for it to feel surreal," said Rowberry. "Sifan told me that even during the race she was worrying about whether we did enough repeats in our last speed workout. The last few days were the same for me. Always wavering between confidence and doubt. This race meant so much to both of us, embodying all we've pushed through the last three years and the dreams we still have in our heads."

Hassan, the world champion in the 1500m and the 10,000m, took down Ethiopian Almaz Ayana's record of 29:17.45 from the 2016 Rio Olympics. Ayana chopped 14.33 seconds off a dubious world record from a Chinese runner in 1993.

Hassan, who fled from Ethiopia for the Netherlands at age 16 as a refugee, now owns world records for the mile, 5km (women's only), one hour run and the 10,000m. In 2019 in Doha, Hassan became the first runner to sweep the 1500m and 10,000m at a world championships. 

She said before the Hengelo meet that she will probably run the 5000m and the 10,000m at the Tokyo Olympics. The 5000m final is on Aug. 2. The 10,000m is Aug. 7. The 1500m final is Aug. 6.