Tirunesh Dibaba running in the 2005 'Carlsbad 5000' (© Victah Sailer)
Carlsbad, California, USAIn sunny but breezy conditions yesterday Ethiopia’s World 5000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba won the 20th edition of the ‘Carlsbad 5000’, a 5km road race, in a time of 14:51 to tie the world’s fastest ever clocking for this distance established by Britain’s Paula Radcliffe in 2003.**
In the men’s race, fellow Ethiopian Dejene Berhanu won his third consecutive title in 13:10.
Dibaba, 19, who strode majestically to the short and long race double at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in France (19/20 March), was pushed all the way in Carlsbad by defending champion Isabella Ochichi of Kenya. However, the Olympic 5000m silver medallist who had been comfortably defeated in both the long (5th) and short (3rd) World Cross races in France by Dibaba also eventually succumbed yesterday, losing by four seconds.
After an opening mile of 4:47, Ochichi forced the pace in the second (uphill) mile and only Dibaba and another Ethiopian Meselech Melkamu, the World Junior 5000m champion, could follow, these leaders passing two miles in 9:36 (last year, Ochichi ran 9:25). However, the battle soon came down to just Ochichi and Dibaba, and when at three miles (14:24), Dibaba put in a decisive burst even the Kenyan was lost for speed and the World champion crossed the line first in 14:51. Ochichi was four seconds slower.
In the men’s race, Berhanu won for the third time in 13:10, the third fastest performance ever on the seaside course, surging at about 2km the 24 year-old Ethiopian who was 5th in last summer’s Olympic 5000m final was never headed again. Berhanu won in 13:10.
Tim Murphy, Carlsbad 5000 co-founder closed a great race day by saying, “The energy and expectations were high today, and it was a great way to top 20 years of the Carlsbad 5000. We also had the largest number of participants and spectators ever.”
IAAF with assistance from Elite Racing (organisers) and Running USA wire
20th Carlsbad 5000
Carlsbad, CA, Sunday, April 3, 2005
MEN
1) Dejene Berhanu, ETH, 13:10,
2) Craig Mottram, AUS, 13:20,
3) Shadrack Kosgei, KEN, 13:24,
4) Sammy Kipketer, KEN, 13:34,
5) Boaz Cheboiyo, KEN, 13:34,
6) Meshack Sang, KEN, 13:42,
7) Dathan Ritzenhein, USA/CO, 13:48,
8) Luke Kipkosgei, KEN, 13:54,
9) Mohamed Awol, ETH, 14:16,
10) Jason Hubbard, USA/CO, 14:27,
WOMEN
1) Tirunesh Dibaba, ETH, 14:51+,
2) Isabella Ochichi, KEN, 14:55,
3) Meselech Melkamu, ETH, 15:16,
4) Kim Smith, NZL, 15:30,
5) Madai Perez, MEX, 15:50,
6) Haley McGregor, AUS, 16:17,
7) Erika Aklufi, USA/CA, 16:26,
8) Carrie Messner, USA/CO, 16:36,
9) Eloise Wellings, NZL, 16:41,
10) Sarah Bouchard, GBR, 16:53,
For full results, go to: www.eliteracing.com
**
+ ties Paula Radcliffe, Flora Light Women’s 5K, London, GBR, September 14, 2003; breaks course record, 14:53, Isabella Ochichi, 2004
NB. uncertified course - Lornah Kiplagat - 14:47, Monday 28 March 2004 in Brunssum, The Netherlands.
