Mo Farah leads the pack in the 5000m heats (© Getty Images)
The withdrawal of reigning champion Kenenisa Bekele, who failed to defend his 10,000 title last weekend, means there will be a new 5000 gold medallist standing on the winner's podium in Sunday night's final.
Great Britain's Mo Farah and Imane Merga of Ethiopia, the silver and bronze medallists over the longer distance, are amongst the favourites which also includes Bernard Lagat, the USA winner in 2007 when in Osaka he completed a 1500/5000 double.
The American who finished runner up to Bekele two years ago in Berlin was first onto the track in a line up which apart from himself included three other sub-13-minute performers, the Kenyan pair of Thomas Longosiwa and teenager Isiah Koech, Ethiopia's Dejen Gebremeskel and Australia's 2005 bronze medallist Craig Mottram.
Lagat after the first qualifier got underway and dawdled through 400 in 1:10.11 executed his race perfectly to win in 13:33.90 from the other automatic qualifers Longosiwa, Gebremeskel, Koech and the USA's Galen Rupp.
The race followed the normal pattern of a Championships heat with Italy's European 10,000 bronze medallist Daniele Meuce leading through the first and second kilometres in 2:49.86 and 5.37.60 with behind him the field stringed out India style in a single line.
Just before 3000 (8:25.02) Saudi Arabia's Jamaan Al-Hamdah went to the front and remained point man through 4000 (11:03) and until the bell when the expected last lap burn up commenced.
There holding back was forgotten although the real speed started down the backstraight and with just over 200 remaining Lagat looking in mint condition hit the front to set himself for a chance to regain his title.
Merga the world leader until Farah ran his exceptional 12:53.11 to defeat Lagat by 0.49 when they both set national records at the Samsung Diamond League meet in Monaco five weeks ago won the second qualifier in 13:37.96 with the Briton second.
This year's IAAF World Cross Country Champion 20m away from the finish line and on the inside of Farah significantly severely eyeballed his opponent in a gesture suggesting he is just as well prepared to win the gold medal. But it was done in friendship. "He said: 'Well done' and I said 'Thanks', Farah revealed.
They were followed home by Abera Kuma of Ethiopia, 2003 champion Eliud Kipchoge and Alistair Cragg and it was the Irishman who led through the first kilometre in 5:32.6. Former World Junior Mountain Running champion Geoffrey Kusuro took over the next stint passing 2km in 5:32.6 while at the next Farah edged ahead of the Ugandan to pass 3km in 8:19.1 with Cragg in attendance.
Another Ugandan Moses Kipsiro, the first man to score a 5000/10000 double at last year's Commonwealth Games since 1934, was in charge at 4km but very quickly his younger colleague was back at the the front and this time putting his feet on the gas pedal.
The burn up over he final circuit with the bell passed in 12:42.10 ultimately for automatic progress came down to the home straight, Cragg taking the last spot by 0.61sec from 20-year-old Amanuel Mesel. Spain's Jesus Espana who lost his European 5000 title to Farah in Barcelona last summer joined the Eritrean as a fastest loser.
Alhamdah, Bilisuma Shuga of Bahrain and Meucci also went through from the performance in the first qualifier.
NOTE: REFEREE DECISION, 5000m Men, Round 1, Heat 2
An incident occurred in the 5000m Men, Round 1, Heat 2, where New Zealand athlete Jake Robertson (bib n. 809), with 7 laps to go, was subject to jostling by other athletes and fell, but continued and closed the race in 12th place.
A Protest was filed by the New Zealand Team. Referee, after examining the video, decided to advance Jake Robertson to the final as an additional athlete. No athlete was disqualified.
Lauren Lee and David Martin for IAAF
