Dejected Bekele walks off the track
The anticipated Bekele-Mo Farah showdown did not materialise.
4-time 10,000m defending champion and world record holder Kenenisa Bekele (ETH), 29, undefeated so far over this distance, dropped out of the race shortly after halfway mark due to a right hip injury, his 1st race since early 2010.
Fellow Ethiopian Ibrahim Jeilan surged in the last lap to catch up the sprinting leader Mo Farah (GBR), 28, (arrived from Somalia to settle in London 20 years ago), world leading over this distance, and overtook him 10m before the finishing with less than a second separating them.
Jeilan grabbed the gold in 27:13.81, Mo Farah took the silver, the 1st worlds medal by a British male in 27:14.07 while Imane Merga, another Ethiopian took the bronze in 27:19.14.
Zersenay Tadese (ERI) the world half marathon record holder came out 4th in 27:22.57
What they said after the dramatic finish:
Jeilan:
"I am a very good sprinter. I have always very fast last laps. So when Farah was in front and started to sprint his last 400 metres, I knew that if I follow him until 100, 200 metres to go, I can catch him."
Mo Farah:
"With 800 metres to go, I forced the pace,"
"To be honest, with 300 metres to go, I though I had it. I looked at him and tried to hold on."
"I told myself to relax to finish quick, but my legs could not handle it,"
Watch the excitement on You Tube
Men 10,000m
World Record : 26:17.53 Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) Brussels 2005
Championship Record : 26:46.31 Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) Berlin 2009
WL n European Record : 26:46.57 Mo Farah (GBR) Eugene, USA 2011
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