Ethiopia’s Tiruneh Dibaba, Meseret Defer, and Turkey’s Ethiopian-born Elvan Abeylegesse sweep the women’s 5,000 meter race in Beijing today. Watch the thrilling race on video below.
(AFP) BEIJING – Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba produced another astonishingly fast final lap to win the women’s 5000m gold at the Beijing Olympics on Friday for the first long-distance running double in 28 years.
Dibaba, 23, who last week won the 10,000m crown, finished the 12-and-a-half lap race around a packed 91,000-capacity National Stadium in 15min 41.40sec, more than 1:30 off her own world record pace.
Turkey’s Ethiopian-born Elvan Abeylegesse claimed silver in 15:42.74, with defending champion and current world champion Meseret Defar finishing in the bronze medal position at 15:44.12.
Dibaba’s double is a landmark for women runners and the first since male compatriot Miruts Yifter’s feat over the same events at the 1980 Moscow Games.
“I am very happy,” said Dibaba. “I like Beijing very much. I will remember the Beijing Games forever because I won two gold medals here.”
Kenya’s world silver medallist Vivian Cheruiyot led the peloton out at an incredibly gentle pace, with Dibaba, Defar and compatriot Meselech Melkamu happy to sit back.
With nine laps to go, Abeylegesse took up the lead and increased the pace, followed by Defar and versatile Russia’s Guinara Galkina-Samitova, who set a world record to win the 3000m steeplechase on Sunday.
The Russian took the pack through the 3km mark at a pedestrian 9:58.13, shortly after which Defar was lucky to escape an out-an-out fall after being spiked from behind by Melkamu.
Dibaba moved to the front with three laps to go and the pace immediately picked up.
Abeyelegesse then bolted with the trio of Ethiopians snapping at her heels.
As was the case in the 10,000m, Dibaba waited for the bell to sound for the final lap before asserting her tactics of shooting off.
The Ethiopian promptly clocked a startling 59.54sec for the final 400m that killed off her rivals, Abeyelesse outsprinting Defar for second spot.
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