Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda held back speedy competitors to win the Carlsbad 5000 in 13 minutes, 24 seconds Sunday.
Wilson Too of Kenya was second in 13:29 and Debeli Gezmu of Ethiopia third in 13:38.
American Bernard Lagat, 41, was fourth in 13:38 and bettered his own world masters record.
Ethiopian Meseret Defar, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 5,000 and the top-seeded runner, won the woman's race in 15:02. Kenya's Caroline Kipkirui was second in 15:13 and Susan Kuijken of the Netherlands was third in 15:28.
The Carlsbad 5000 race is known as the "world's fastest 5K" for its record-setting times.
