• World Athletics Championships

Gold at last for Farah

ESPN staff
September 4, 2011
Mo Farah outsprinted his rivals to claim gold © Getty Images
Enlarge

Mo Farah became the first British man to win a world long distance title after holding off his rivals to claim gold in the men's 5000m at the World Athletics Championships in South Korea.

Farah upgraded the silver medal he won in the 10,000m earlier in the championships to gold after a superb tactical race in Daegu. He produced a blistering final lap to hold off his rivals and cross the line in 13 minutes 23.36 seconds.

Content to sit at the back of the pack in the opening stages, Farah moved to the front in the last kilometre when Saudi Arabian Hussain Jamaan Alhamdah threatened to break away. As the pace quickened on the final lap, he dug deep to see off the challenge of Bernard Lagat and Imane Merga.

While former champion Lagat claimed silver, Merga was later disqualified for running inside his lane, as team-mate Dejene Gebremeskel was bumped up to bronze.

"I'm very proud," Farah said. "I've made a lot of sacrifices, moving away from home and I'm glad I made that choice because it's working."

He added: "But you can't get carried away. It's a long way [to London 2012]. The aim is to stay injury free. Anything can happen in long distance."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices