THE TEAM COMPETITION

WRRC Copenhagen 2026 is not just about individual performances. When the world’s best runners line up at the start line in Copenhagen on September 19–20, they will also be competing for the title of the world’s best team.

Team competitions will be held in the One Mile, 5K, and Half Marathon distances. They take place as part of the main races, so you can expect plenty of exciting battles in the streets of Copenhagen.

However, the team competition is structured slightly differently depending on whether it is the One Mile and 5K or the Half Marathon. You can read more below:

Half Marathon
 In the World Championships Half Marathon, a team consists of three runners from the same country, and the team is determined based on the results list. This means that the three fastest male or female runners from each country make up their respective national teams. In other words, the three best men’s and women’s teams are identified based on the combined performances.

One Mile and 5K
 In the One Mile and 5K, the team competition works a bit differently. Here, it is a mixed team competition, with each team consisting of two women and two men from the same country. The team is determined based on the results list, meaning the two fastest men and the two fastest women form the team. In other words, the top mixed teams are identified in each distance.

There will be plenty to follow and cheer for as the world’s best runners from the strongest running nations compete for the podium at the World Championships.