Reuters
Beijing, August 22: Britain’s Mo Farah stormed down the final straight to retain his 10,000 metres world title in some style Saturday and extend his dominance of men’s distance running at major championships.
Bumped by one of his rivals as he took the first bend after the bell, the 32-year-old regained his composure to cross the line in 27 minutes 01.13 seconds.
Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor was outpaced over the final 100 metres but finished second in 27.01.76 to claim silver, while his compatriot Paul Tanui was a distant third in 24.32.34.
Reigning Olympic and world 5,000 and 10,000 metres champion Farah has now won six straight distance titles at major championships going back to his second place in the longer event at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu.
While Eritrean teenager Ghirmay Ghebreselassie became the youngest ever marathon world champion when he stunned a strong field of fellow East Africans to win the first title of the Beijing championships Saturday.
The 19-year-old eased clear of the field over the final six kilometres and crossed the line in two hours, 12 minutes and 27 seconds to claim a first world championships gold medal for his country.
“I cannot explain what I am feeling, I am so happy,” he told reporters. “I am so proud of this victory. My medal is the first gold medal in Eritrean history. It is a very special thing for our history.”
“My parents wanted me to be a great student but I wanted to be a great athlete. Today’s (Saturday) victory will be a great surprise to them,” he added.
Ethiopian Yemane Tsegay, who led briefly before Ghebreselassie’s final surge, finished 40 seconds behind the Eritrean in second place, while Uganda’s Solomon Mutai claimed bronze in 2.13.29.