Defar delights in her World record triumph in Oslo (© AFP / Getty Images)
Oslo, Norway About twothirds of the way through her World record-breaking run** at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games - IAAF Golden League 2007 - Meseret Defar knew that she truly was on the road to something special. In fact, she said, she was feeling so good on this still, nearly perfect evening that there was absolutely no uncertainty in her mind that she would break her own World record in the 5000 metres.
“No, I had no doubts,” the reigning Olympic champion said after knocking nearly eight seconds from her own World mark with her sensational 14:16.63 run at Bislett Stadium. “Especially after I ran through the first 3000 metres. I knew I was going to run under 14:20.”
Indeed, Defar passed the 3000m mark in just under 8:34, nearly eight seconds faster than the pace which brought her the old mark in New York City just over one year ago. At that point, her goal was all but secure.
“I didn’t think I would break the record by such a big margin, but I was aiming under 14:20. So I think I did a good job.”
That proclamation could very well be the understatement of the season thus far. Patiently following pacesetter Olga Komyagina, Defar took matters into her own hands with seven laps to go. Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot gamely gave chase and managed to stick with the Ethiopian until she gradually built an insurmountable gap with three laps remaining.
“During my training I knew I was on my top level. And while I was running tonight I knew that I was going for the World record. I was ready for this. And when I was running I knew that I would get it.”
Relentless, Defar upped the tempo as she headed for home at the bell, covering the final circuit in 64 seconds. Even that didn’t seem to drain Defar, the twice World Indoor 3000m champion. After stopping briefly to kneel and kiss the ground, she immediately undertook her victory lap to thank the vociferous near-capacity crowd for their support.
Just 23, Defar firmly believes that she hasn’t reached any sort of limit and plans to stick around for some time to see how fast she can ultimately run.
“Well last year I ran 14:24 and this year I ran 14:16. So I think if I do even better training, I can go beyond that.”
“I have lots of World records and have made some good achievements,” she continued, “but I still have to keep performing, and performing well until I’m 30. There might still be some more records yet.”
Next up for Defar is the Golden Spike Grand Prix in Ostrava on 27 June and then All-African Games in July. Is there another record in the cards?
“Maybe,” said, smiling widely. “I’ll try. I think today was a very, very good day for me. But I’ll still try to go even faster.”
Defar earned a $50,000 bonus for her mark, and said she already has plans for some of the money. “I’m going to donate it to groups who work with Ethiopian children with HIV and Aids, and to orphaned children.”
But tonight, a celebration awaits. “I have four or five friends here, and we’re going to party!”
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
**NOTE: World record pending usual ratification procedures
