News04 Jun 2011


Mosop rips apart World records for 25,000 and 30,000m in Eugene – Samsung Diamond League

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Moses Mosop wins the 30,000m in a world record in Eugene (© Kirby Lee)

Moses Mosop decimated the long standing World records* on the track for 25,000 metres and 30,000 metres with an uninhibited display of front running at the distance running festival on Friday night (3), the eve of the main competition programme of the Prefontaine Classic – Samsung Diamond League meeting which takes place, Saturday (4).


Mosop, the 2005 World 10,000m Championship  bronze medallist, who has already enjoyed an excellent 2011 year with second places in the Paris Half Marathon and Boston Marathon dominated  the endurance competition for the last 12,000 metres of the race.


The 25-year-old Kenyan, thanks to excellent early pacemaking by Ethiopia's Keteme Tola for the first 10,000 (29:19) became the first African to hold the records which Japan's Toshihiko Seko set in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March 1981 of 1:13:55.8 and 1:29:18.8.


Mosop who led from 18,000m went through 25,000 in 1:12:25.4 to smash Seko's figures over the shorter distance, and maintaining his assault added a second World record to his credentials when crossing the finish line after 75 laps in 1:26:47.4.


"We started conservatively but by 15km I felt comfortable and so I pushed the pace and then really enjoyed the race," said Mosop. "But 30k on the track is very difficult for the concentration.”


He insisted: "This is great preparation for my up-and-coming marathons. Speed training!"


Behind him Abel Kirui his fellow countryman who was the last competitor to be lapped twice by Mosop finished in a time of 1:30:00.1.


Mosop also easily improved the previous fastest times set on USA soil by the legendary marathon star Bill Rodgers of 1:14:11.8 and 1:31:48.9 in February 1979.


Hosea Macharinyang a very experienced cross country runner completing a clean sweep for the Kenyan nation, finished third with a clocking of 1:35:21.5.  


Farah sets European record for 10,000m


The men's 10,000m race staged to assist African runners produce fast times to improve their chances of selection for the IAAF World Championships saw over 20 of them upstaged by Mo Farah of Great Britain.


Farah who moved from his London home with his family to train under the eagle eye of coaching guru Alberto Salazar in nearby Portland earlier in the year produced an incredible performance, indeed the best of his life, to win in 26:46.57.


The 28-year-old who decisively smashed Belgium's Mohammed Mourhit's 11-year-old European record of 26:52.30 and Jon Brown's UK 1998 mark of 27:18.14 outfoxed his rivals when hitting the front with 1200m remaining and winding up the pace.


Then over the final circuit he just went quicker and quicker to blow away the challenge of Ethiopia's Imane Merga who posted a lifetime best of 26:48.35, as did third placed Josphat Bett from Kenya who crossed the line in 26:48.99.

   

"I just sat at the back and worked my way through the field," said Farah whose previous fastest time was a year-old 27:28;26. "This is definitely a special track."


Farah who trains with leading American athletes as part of a specialist set up in Portland, added: "It was amazing and and I want to thank my coach who has worked me really hard on the Oregon Project. It's paid off."


The European 5000 and 10,000 gold medallist insisted: "If it wasn't for the crowd I would never have done this. With three laps to go I knew I had the chance for the record."


Looking towards Daegu and the IAAF World Championships (27 August - 4 September) he added: "I want a World medal and it's shown here if I keep working hard I'll be in the mix."


The strength in depth race saw nine athletes dip under 27 minutes.


Cheruiyot dominates; Dibaba doesn’t start - injured


Vivian Cheruiyot, last year's Diamond Race winner over 5000 metres, and who won in Shanghai (15 May), continued her domination of the event this summer with another convincing victory.


Kenya's reigning World champion at the distance took charge of the Diamond Race competition with a kilometre remaining to win in 14:33.96.


Unfortunately, the Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba was a late withdrawal as a precautionary measure on medical advice. The Olympic champion and World record holder discovered earlier in the day after an MRI scan that she was suffering from a ‘stress reaction’ to her right shin and although she could have run, delayed her start to the season not wishing to risk it getting worse and developing into a full stress fracture.


Cheruiyot taking charge of the race in the final kilometre again used her finishing speed to beat fellow Kenyan's Linet Masai and Mercy Cherono.


Masai, the 2009 World 10,000 gold medallist crossed the line in 14:35.44, while 20-year-old Mercy Cherono lowered the personal best of 14:37.17 she set at the Samsung Diamond League meet in Shanghai three weeks ago by 0.16sec.


Dave Martin for the Samsung Diamond League

* World records subject to the usual ratification procedures


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