But the twist in the tale was that Tadese, after earning six consecutive silvers for Eritrea in the team event, finally got his hands on a team gold thanks to the additional efforts of Samuel Tsegaye, who won the battle with Ethiopia's Guye Adola to take silver in a personal best of 59:20, and Nguse Amlosom, fifth in 59:59.

Tadese looked somewhat crestfallen after his race, but Tsegaye confirmed later that he had perked up once he knew that a historic team gold had been secured.

"I think he is a real team player, and he is really happy that we have won the gold at last," Tsegaye said.

Kenya, team gold medallists on the last six occasions, had to settle for silver this time around, with bronze going to Ethiopia.

Kenya's Gladys Cherono (left), Mary Ngugi (centre) and Sally Kaptich head for gold, silver and bronze respectively in Copenhagen ©Getty Images

In the women's event, however, Kenyan domination was total as their runners restored their dominance following Ethiopia's individual and team triumphs at the last running of this event in 2012, with their team of five occupying the first five places.

That was hardly a surprise given their talent - but the individual winner Gladys Cherono in 67:28 was, by her own admission, surprised to have beaten team-mates including Lucy Wangui Kabuu, who posted the world's fastest half marathon time last year.

"I wasn't expecting to win," said Cherono.

"But when I got to 18km I felt I was still strong so I decided to push on."

The 21-year-old Kamworor, meanwhile, is now focusing on breaking the world half marathon record of 58:23 set in 2010 by Tadese, who had won five golds and a silver in the previous six runnings of this event.

"For me now the main goal is to run a world record for the half marathon," said Kamworor, whose winning time here was the world's fastest this year and 13 seconds slower than his personal best, set at the Ras Al Khaimah event last February, the fastest recorded in 2013.

"I cannot predict right now where it will be, but I know I can run a faster race," he added.

For the Danes, an event in which they combined the elite race with a mass start of 30,000 runners - the biggest race ever run in Denmark, and the first World Championship in running to be held there - the event was a triumph.

In glorious sunshine - Copenhagen was under snow this time last year - and light winds, there was no world record but a plethora of personal bests on the flat and fast course through the city centre.

The women's and men's races were set underway Danish Prime Minister Helle thorning-Schmidt, relaxed and glamorous in a bright red coat, and Prince Frederik of Denmark, an International Olympic Committtee member.

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