The course for the race was flat with a number of turns and was grassy and reasonably dry underfoot. An unusual addition to the relatively straightforward course was the placement of large wooden logs on the course as hurdles. This aspect came under criticism from Jason Henderson of "Athletics Weekly", who commented that the course "seems to be some kind of children’s play park, runners also have to run past a bizarre-looking wooden crocodile." A mix of unseasonably warm weather, followed by a cold, overcast day prior to the championships, suggested the event would be held in less than ideal conditions. However, the race day itself was sunny and (at 10° Celsius) the temperature was well-suited to the runners. The men's race started at a middling-pace and 20 runners (mostly Kenyans, Ethiopians and Eritreans) had formed a leading pack by the third lap. Defending champion Gebregziabher Gebremariam was not among them and it soon became obvious he would not reach the podium for a second year running. Samuel Tsegay and Teklemariam Medhin of Eritrea began to increase the pace at the beginning of the fourth lap. This disrupted the pack and by the end of the lap Medhin was leading, shortly followed by Joseph Ebuya and Moses Kipsiro, who was a little further behind. Ebuya took the lead and he continued the quicker pace for the fifth and final lap. Medhin stayed close to Ebuya, however, while Leonard Komon and Kipsiro were battling for the bronze medal position. As the race drew to a close, Ebuya pulled away from Medhin to beat the Eritrean by six seconds, becoming the first Kenyan senior men's champion since Paul Tergat in 1999. Komon and Kipsiro engaged in a sprint finish in the final straight and, although they recorded the same time, it was Kipsiro who took the honours. Tsegay and Hasan Mahboob took fifth and sixth places and a Kenyan trio of Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong, Paul Tanui, and Hosea Mwok Macharinyang ensured that Kenya took the team gold as well. Eritrea took the team silver medal, pushing Ethiopian into third place on the team podium. Chakir Boujattaoui (in 12th place) helped Morocco to fourth in the rankings while Saudi Arabian-born runner Simon Bairu, representing Canada, was the first non-African to cross the line.