Farah wins gold for Britain in 5,000

Mo Farah became Britain's first 5,000 metres world champion with a sensational victory on Sunday, giving his country a much-needed boost ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Farah, who had the gold medal in the 10,000 agonisingly snatched from his grasp by Ibrahim Jeilan, looked in trouble early on when he grabbed a cup of water from a table on the track and rubbed it into his scalp while running at the back of the pack.

But the Somali-born athlete moved up the field at the halfway mark and dug deep over the final 600 to see off American Bernard Lagat.

Ethiopia's Imane Merga crossed the line in third place but was later disqualified for stepping inside the curb and countryman Dejen Gebremeskel was promoted to the bronze medal position.

Farah, the fastest man in the world over 5,000 and 10,000 coming into the championships in Daegu, won in a time of 13 minutes 23.36.

"I'm very proud, I can't believe it. It hasn't quite sunk in," Farah said. "I came so close in the 10,000. I just had to try and dig in. I just had to try and relax and get it right. "It's a great feeling, it's an amazing feeling."

Farah's tactics had been called into question when he struck for home early in the 10,000, but on Sunday he got it just right, moving on to the shoulders of the leaders with two laps to go and kicking hard with his blazing finishing speed.

Eyes wide and teeth gritted, Farah kissed his fingers and spread his arms wide in celebration, giving Britain their second gold medal in Daegu.

"My coach told me not to let anybody come past me and at the last minute just dig in," added Farah. "I just had to try and do what I did in the 10,000 but try and get it right this time.

"My coach said 'try and believe yourself, just hold it together, don't lean forward' and that worked. We've made a lot of sacrifices moving away from home, I'm glad I made a choice because it's working."

His victory came as a huge fillip to the British camp, who had come under pressure for failing to live up to expectations with less than a year to go before the London Games.

Farah's victory, coupled with Welshman Dai Greene's gold in the 400 hurdles on Thursday, will have given British athletes an injection of confidence.

Farah, who broke David Moorcroft's 28-year British record in the event last year in Zurich, had run the right race, his coach Alberto Salazar said.

"Right before the start of the race I told him to be patient," said Salazar. "If you're not patient you lose."

American Lagat, the 2007 world champion, could not get a clear run coming off the final bend and the 36-year-old had to settle for silver.

"I got boxed in and by the time I got out Farah had already won," said Lagat. "He was the strongest tonight."
 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.