The men's 10,000 metres event featured at the 1987 World Championships in Rome, Italy. There were a total number of 30 participating athletes, with the final being held on 29 August 1987. The winning margin was 10.35 seconds. As of 2024, this is the only time the men's 10,000 metres has been won by more than four seconds at these championships.
Medalists
edit| Gold |  Paul KipkoechKenya (KEN) |
| Silver |  Francesco PanettaItaly (ITA) |
| Bronze |  Hansjörg KunzeEast Germany (GDR) |
Records
editExisting records at the start of the event.
| World Record |  Fernando Mamede (POR)
|
27:13.81 | Stockholm, Sweden | July 2, 1984 |
| Championship Record | Fernando Mamede (POR)
|
27:45.54 | Helsinki, Finland | August 7, 1983 |
Final
edit| RANK | FINAL | TIME |
|---|---|---|
|
Paul Kipkoech (KEN)
|
27:38.63 CR |
|
Francesco Panetta (ITA)
|
27:48.98 |
|
Hansjörg Kunze (GDR)
|
27:50.37 |
| 4. |  Arturo Barrios (MEX)
|
27:59.66 |
| 5. |  Steve Binns (GBR)
|
28:03.08 |
| 6. |  Martin Vrabel (TCH)
|
28:05.59 |
| 7. |  Spyros Andriopoulos (GRE)
|
28:07.17 NR |
| 8. |  Steve Plasencia (USA)
|
28:11.38 |
| 9. |  Jean-Louis Prianon (FRA)
|
28:19.47 |
| 10. |  Rolando Vera (ECU)
|
28:20.24 |
| 11. | Ezequiel Canario (POR)
|
28:28.24 |
| 12. |  Mats Erixon (SWE)
|
28:29.08 |
| 13. | Paul Arpin (FRA)
|
28:29.21 |
| 14. |  Zhang Guowei (CHN)
|
28:30.00 |
| 15. | Jon Solly (GBR)
|
28:31.97 |
| 16. | Salvatore Antibo (ITA)
|
28:33.77 |
| 17. |  Markus Ryffel (SUI)
|
28:34.58 |
| 18. |  Brian Sheriff (ZIM)
|
28:34.96 |
| 19. |  Paul McCloy (CAN)
|
28:41.89 |
| 20. |  Kozu Akutsu (JPN)
|
28:45.89 |
| 21. | Ed Eyestone (USA)
|
29:00.33 |
| 22. | Some Muge (KEN)
|
29:06.40 |
| 23. |  Haji Bulbula (ETH)
|
29:10.45 |
| 24. | Wodajo Bulti (ETH)
|
29:17.09 |
| 25. |  Habib Romdhani (TUN)
|
29:21.35 |
| 26. |  John Treacy (IRL)
|
29:22.14 |
| — |  Martti Vainio (FIN)
|
DNF |
| — | Paul Williams (CAN)
|
DNF |
| — |  Gerhard Hartmann (AUT)
|
DNS |
| — | Gerard Donakowski (USA)
|
DNS |