Aleksey Desyatchikov

Aleksey Desyatchikov was world ranked in the top 10 in the 10K in 1958 (#8) and 1960 (#4), and in the 5K in 1958 (#8). He was runner-up to Pyotr Bolotnikov at the Soviet Championships in the 5,000 in 1958 and at both distance races in 1960. Desyatchikov ran his lifetime best of 28:39.71 to finish fourth in Roma in 1960. He is perhaps best known for winning the 10K at the 1959 US-USSR Meet in Philadelphia, which was run in stifling heat, and which saw one American runner (Bob Soth) collapse and have to be carried from the track, and the second Soviet runner, Hubert Pyarnakivi, finish in a macabre shuffle only to similarly collapse as he crossed the finish line.

Personal Best: 10000 – 28:39.71 (1960).