Double Olympic champion Mo Farah produced a stunning sprint to take the 5,000 metres in Birmingham yesterday as a host of London Games winners struggled to find the form that propelled them to victory last year.
Farah was locked in battle with Ethiopian Yenew Alamirew around the final lap of the Diamond League event but the Briton kicked hard over the final 200 metres, bringing the cheering crowd to its feet as he crossed the line in 13 minutes 14.24 seconds.
“It was important that I won the race. The conditions were tough today,” Farah said.
“It was a tough field so I’m really pleased I came through it with a victory. It’s important that I keep working hard now and get ready for the world championships.”
While Farah showed he is still the distance runner to beat ahead of the world championships, there were some timely reminders from the some of the nearly-rans that the big names would not necessarily have things all their own way in Moscow.
Olympic 100 metres champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce suffered an upset over 200, with defeat to Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare.
The race had been billed as a clash between Jamaica’s Fraser-Pryce and world 100 champion Carmelita Jeter of the US but Okagbare finished strongly to win in 22.55.
Fraser-Pryce, who plans to run the 100 and 200 at the world championships, was second in 22.72 with Jeter, competing for first time since suffering a hamstring injury in Shanghai in May, finishing last in 23.36.
Jeter walked straight past waiting reporters but training partner Okagbare did not think the American’s performance was cause for concern.
“She’s fine. You saw her run today so you can tell for yourself,” the Nigerian told reporters.
Jamaican Nesta Carter took the men’s 100 in the absence of his better-known compatriots Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, winning in 9.99.
Hurdles champions Sally Pearson and Aries Merritt were both on the comeback from injury and showed there was still some work to be done.
Pearson lacked her usual speed between the barriers and was fourth in a strong 100 hurdles field behind Dawn Harper-Nelson, who won in 12.64.
Merritt was not too disheartened by his second place to Ryan Braithwaite of Barbados who won in 13.13.