Mo Farah Wins Gold At World Championships In Beijing In 10000m

Mo Farah etched his name in the pantheon of middle distance running greats and put a tough season opening behind him Saturday when he defended his 10,000m title at the world championships in Beijing.

Meanwhile, Neil Black reckons the British team will lose belief in themselves if Farah fails to retain his 10,000m crown and win the first gold medal of the World Championships.

With this imperious victory to defend his world 10,000 metres title, Farah surpassed Lasse Viren and Emil Zatopek, Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie, in finishing a exceptional unbroken streak of triumphs stretching again to Daegu in 2011.

Finally with 500 meters to go, the defending World Champion stormed out to the lead for the first time.

Whereas he all the time seemed to have the beating of Kamworor within the dash, Farah did exceptionally nicely to keep away from falling flat on his face with 300 to go, as he tripped over the heel of a backmarker.

The most remarkable performance of the day, though, came in the marathon, which was won by Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, who at 19, gave Eritrea its first World Championships gold medal. “Now my aim is to go out there and make history”.

But Farah insists Salazar’s absence in the last few months hasn’t ruined his preparations after ex-Scotland junior rugby cap Fudge, who is UK Athletics head of endurance, stepped in.

Salazar has strenuously denied all the accusations against him and Farah, who was not accused of any wrongdoing, has vowed to stick by his coach unless any allegations are proven.

Farah showed his class on Saturday evening with another sound tactical display, as he was happy to run his own race and leave the Kenyans Kamworor, Paul Tanui and Bedan Karoki to set the pace.

The 32-year-old British double reigning Olympic champion pulled out of the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Birmingham in June and flew back to his training base in Oregon, claiming he was “emotionally exhausted” by the controversy. “Mo was exceptional and with those six Olympic and world medals I really think he has a case to be the best middle-distance runner of all time now”, said Salazar.

In the Men’s 100m heats, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt qualified for the semifinal with a time of 9.96 seconds while rival Justin Gatlin finished with a timing of 9.83 seconds. “Obviously all that stuff kicked off and it wasn’t easy but I had to deal with it – it’s what comes with being a role model”. “The race is done and I can just get ready for the 5k”. He ran confidently, thanks to his myriad tactical successes and European 1500-meter record of 3:28.81, which certified him as the strongest finisher in the field.

Farah stated: “I needed to hold in there however I had the arrogance in myself”. “Definitely relief”, said Farah when questioned on his emotions given the year he has had.

The 24-year-old needed a first-four placing to qualify for the semi-finals but after a good start, he clipped the eighth hurdle. But Christina Schwanitz of Germany reduced Gong Lijiao to second place with a throw of 20.37 metres, 7cm more than Gong.