Mo Farah (L) of Great Britain shakes hands with Rene Herrera of Philippines after competing in the Men's 5000m Round 1 Heats on Day 12 of the London 2012 Olympic on 08 August 2102 (© Getty Images)
With no major surprises emerging from the first round heats of the men’s 5000m, there will be no shortage of story lines to follow in what is expected to be a dramatic final on Saturday (11) night.
The most obvious – and the one on the minds of the 80,000 fans that crammed into Olympic Stadium this morning – is Mo Farah’s quest for an Olympic distance double. Britain’s 10,000m champion advanced without difficulty from the first of two heats, finishing third (13:26.00) just a couple steps behind heat winner Hayle Ibrahimov (13:25.23) of Azerbaijan and Kenyan teenager Isiah Koech (13:25.64).
"It was pretty difficult, pretty hard," said Farah, who won the 5000m at last year’s World Championships after finishing second in the 10,000m. "The 10-K took more out me that I thought. I’ve got a couple days to recover."
Farah positioned himself among the top five for most of the race, a dangerous area given the physicality of tactical early round contests.
"There was a lot of pushing and shoving, trying to stay out of trouble. It wasn't a great race but I got through that's the important bit."
There is the story of the young Ethiopians, Dejen Gebremeskel, Yenew Alamirew and Hagos Gebrhiwot, three of the world’s four fastest men this season, whose aim is to keep the 5000m title in Ethiopian hands. Gebremeskel and Alamirew succeeded admirably, taking the first two spots in the second heat, clocking 13:15.15 and 13:15.39, the fastest opening round runs in Olympic history.
Gebrhiwot, still just 18, controlled much of the first heat and held on to finish fifth in 13:26.16 to snatch the final automatic qualifying spot.
There is also the story of Galen Rupp, Farah’s training partner and 10,000m silver medallist, who is chasing double podium ambitions of his own.
The double U.S. champion controlled part of the early and middle portions of the second heat proceedings, ensuring a stronger tempo. Although he eventually drifted to sixth down the homestretch, his 13:17.56 led the five time qualifiers, all from the second heat.
Then there is the story of his teammate Bernard Lagat, who at 37 and likely in his final Olympics, is still chasing an elusive gold. Well-positioned throughout the race, the 2007 double World champion eased up to finish a comfortable fourth in 13:15.45.
"It was a test of tactics," said Lagat, who won 1500m bronze in 2000 and silver in 2004. On the home straight I slowed down a little bit. I just wanted to get in."
Just behind him, Moroccan Abdalaati Iguider, the bronze medallist in last night’s 1500m, moved on as well keeping his double podium aspirations alive.
There’s also the 'Kenyan story’ with runners from the east African powerhouse chasing their first victory in the event since 1988 and just their second overall. Thomas Longosiwa, a finalist four years ago, moved on easily with his third place finish in the second heat in 13:15.41. Likewise Isiah Koech looked with his second place finish in the first heat. But it wasn’t a good morning for Edwin Soi, the bronze medallist in Beijing, who finished sixth Heat 1 and won’t move on.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
The most obvious – and the one on the minds of the 80,000 fans that crammed into Olympic Stadium this morning – is Mo Farah’s quest for an Olympic distance double. Britain’s 10,000m champion advanced without difficulty from the first of two heats, finishing third (13:26.00) just a couple steps behind heat winner Hayle Ibrahimov (13:25.23) of Azerbaijan and Kenyan teenager Isiah Koech (13:25.64).
"It was pretty difficult, pretty hard," said Farah, who won the 5000m at last year’s World Championships after finishing second in the 10,000m. "The 10-K took more out me that I thought. I’ve got a couple days to recover."
Farah positioned himself among the top five for most of the race, a dangerous area given the physicality of tactical early round contests.
"There was a lot of pushing and shoving, trying to stay out of trouble. It wasn't a great race but I got through that's the important bit."
There is the story of the young Ethiopians, Dejen Gebremeskel, Yenew Alamirew and Hagos Gebrhiwot, three of the world’s four fastest men this season, whose aim is to keep the 5000m title in Ethiopian hands. Gebremeskel and Alamirew succeeded admirably, taking the first two spots in the second heat, clocking 13:15.15 and 13:15.39, the fastest opening round runs in Olympic history.
Gebrhiwot, still just 18, controlled much of the first heat and held on to finish fifth in 13:26.16 to snatch the final automatic qualifying spot.
There is also the story of Galen Rupp, Farah’s training partner and 10,000m silver medallist, who is chasing double podium ambitions of his own.
The double U.S. champion controlled part of the early and middle portions of the second heat proceedings, ensuring a stronger tempo. Although he eventually drifted to sixth down the homestretch, his 13:17.56 led the five time qualifiers, all from the second heat.
Then there is the story of his teammate Bernard Lagat, who at 37 and likely in his final Olympics, is still chasing an elusive gold. Well-positioned throughout the race, the 2007 double World champion eased up to finish a comfortable fourth in 13:15.45.
"It was a test of tactics," said Lagat, who won 1500m bronze in 2000 and silver in 2004. On the home straight I slowed down a little bit. I just wanted to get in."
Just behind him, Moroccan Abdalaati Iguider, the bronze medallist in last night’s 1500m, moved on as well keeping his double podium aspirations alive.
There’s also the 'Kenyan story’ with runners from the east African powerhouse chasing their first victory in the event since 1988 and just their second overall. Thomas Longosiwa, a finalist four years ago, moved on easily with his third place finish in the second heat in 13:15.41. Likewise Isiah Koech looked with his second place finish in the first heat. But it wasn’t a good morning for Edwin Soi, the bronze medallist in Beijing, who finished sixth Heat 1 and won’t move on.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
