Kenya's Linet Chepkwemoi Masai crosses the line to end the 12 year Ethiopian domiance of the women's 10,000m (© Getty Images)
With a brilliant tactical display, Kenya’s Linet Masai took home a well-deserved victory in the 10,000m, ending a 12-year Ethiopian stranglehold in the event.
With two-time defending champion Tirunesh Dibaba sidelined with injury, tonight’s battle for the women’s 10,000m world title was to signal a changing of the guard, but the conventional wisdom held that the successor to the throne would be a compatriot of the double Olympic champion. But Masai, the fourth place finisher in Beijing last summer, doesn’t seem to go for conventional wisdom.
Illustrating tactical grace and aggressiveness that belie her 19 years – she doesn’t turn 20 until 5 December – Masai chased down the daunting and favoured Ethiopian trio of Meseret Defar, Meselech Melkamu and Wude Ayelew over the final 300m to win in 31:30:51.24. It was Kenya’s first victory in the event since Sally Barsosio’s triumph in Athens 12 years ago and the first Kenyan medal in the event since 1999.
“I can’t believe it!” Masai said. “I didn’t give up.”
That was abundantly clear over the final lap, when the Ethiopian trio, led by Defar, looked to be prepping for podiums sweep similar to 2001 and 2005 until Masai long legs began to power along with her adversaries.
As they entered the home straight, victory seemed to be Defar’s who was able to maintain the small gap she had on Melkamu. But with Defar’s power suddenly fading, Melkamu, herself a member of the sub-30 minute club, took the lead, with Ayelew in tow. But Masai, motoring onwards to the outside, crashed the party to edge Melkamu by 0.10.
“I’m disappointed (Ethiopia) lost the gold, but for myself personally, I’m pleased,” Melkamu said after her first 10,000m appearance at the World championships.
Realizing she was beaten, Defar (30:52.37) nearly stopped running over the final 10 metres, and only reached the line after Kenyan Grace Momanyi (31:52.25, PB), to finish fifth.
“The last 30 metres I had trouble lifting my legs,” said Defar, who only took up the event seriously this season. She still intends to double back in the 5000m, which Dibaba also has yet to rule out.
Further off the pace, finishers six through 10 produced season or career bests, led by American Amy Yoder Begley (31:13.78, PB) and Japan’s Yurika Nakamura (31:14.39, PB), with New Zealander Kim Smith (31:21.42) leading the next group, in eighth.
Olympic bronze medallist Shalane Flanagan of the US was never in the hunt, and finished 14th (31:32.19) while Elvan Abeylegesse, the Olympic silver medallist didn’t even reach the finish, dropping out some 23 minutes into the race.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
With two-time defending champion Tirunesh Dibaba sidelined with injury, tonight’s battle for the women’s 10,000m world title was to signal a changing of the guard, but the conventional wisdom held that the successor to the throne would be a compatriot of the double Olympic champion. But Masai, the fourth place finisher in Beijing last summer, doesn’t seem to go for conventional wisdom.
Illustrating tactical grace and aggressiveness that belie her 19 years – she doesn’t turn 20 until 5 December – Masai chased down the daunting and favoured Ethiopian trio of Meseret Defar, Meselech Melkamu and Wude Ayelew over the final 300m to win in 31:30:51.24. It was Kenya’s first victory in the event since Sally Barsosio’s triumph in Athens 12 years ago and the first Kenyan medal in the event since 1999.
“I can’t believe it!” Masai said. “I didn’t give up.”
That was abundantly clear over the final lap, when the Ethiopian trio, led by Defar, looked to be prepping for podiums sweep similar to 2001 and 2005 until Masai long legs began to power along with her adversaries.
As they entered the home straight, victory seemed to be Defar’s who was able to maintain the small gap she had on Melkamu. But with Defar’s power suddenly fading, Melkamu, herself a member of the sub-30 minute club, took the lead, with Ayelew in tow. But Masai, motoring onwards to the outside, crashed the party to edge Melkamu by 0.10.
“I’m disappointed (Ethiopia) lost the gold, but for myself personally, I’m pleased,” Melkamu said after her first 10,000m appearance at the World championships.
Realizing she was beaten, Defar (30:52.37) nearly stopped running over the final 10 metres, and only reached the line after Kenyan Grace Momanyi (31:52.25, PB), to finish fifth.
“The last 30 metres I had trouble lifting my legs,” said Defar, who only took up the event seriously this season. She still intends to double back in the 5000m, which Dibaba also has yet to rule out.
Further off the pace, finishers six through 10 produced season or career bests, led by American Amy Yoder Begley (31:13.78, PB) and Japan’s Yurika Nakamura (31:14.39, PB), with New Zealander Kim Smith (31:21.42) leading the next group, in eighth.
Olympic bronze medallist Shalane Flanagan of the US was never in the hunt, and finished 14th (31:32.19) while Elvan Abeylegesse, the Olympic silver medallist didn’t even reach the finish, dropping out some 23 minutes into the race.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
