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Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris finds the answer to beating Mo Farah

Mo Farah falls to Muktar Edris in his final championship race on the track marking the end of an era for the six-time world champion

Muktar Edris
August 12, 2017
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Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris found the answer to how to beat Mo Farah, on the six-time world champion and four-time Olympic champion’s home soil no less.

Farah, who was racing his final championship race on the track during the men’s 5,000m final on Saturday, settled for second behind the Ethiopian in 13:33.22, just back of Edris’ 13:32.79. American Paul Chelimo finished third in 13:33.30.

Mohammed Ahmed, who broke the Canadian record in the men’s 10,000m earlier at the championships, finished sixth in what was the best performance ever by a Canadian in the men’s 5,000m at the IAAF World Championships. He ran 13:35.43. Justyn Knight, who impressively made the final competing on his first outdoor senior national team for Canada, finished ninth in 13:39.15 as both Canadians finished in the top-10.

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Chelimo of the United States, the Olympic silver medallist, took the pace out hard for the first 400m. After that, the pace slowed drastically, which has historically played into Farah’s strengths as he is one of the best in the world over the final 600m-800m of a distance race.

The pace lagged until five laps to go as Australia’s Patrick Tiernan, a past NCAA Division One Cross-Country champion, broke from the field and pushed the pace. The pack, Farah included, let Tiernan lead by about 10m for a few laps in the closing stages.

With a lap to go, Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha held the rail and the trio of Ethiopians had Farah smartly boxed in. It was a four-man race over the final 200m with Edris passing the three others over the final 100m and holding off a charging Farah who was gaining on the inside. Kejelcha’s early move likely cost him a medal but allowed Edris to “sling-shot,” as the announcers put it, past the field.

Aug. 13 is the final day of action at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London.

Results

1 896 Muktar EDRIS ETHETH 13:32.79
2 954 Mohamed FARAH GBRGBR 13:33.22
3 1382 Paul Kipkemoi CHELIMO USAUSA 13:33.30
4 899 Yomif KEJELCHA ETHETH 13:33.51
5 893 Selemon BAREGA ETHETH 13:35.34
6 749 Mohammed AHMED CANCAN 13:35.43
7 852 Aron KIFLE ERIERI 13:36.91
8 950 Andrew BUTCHART GBRGBR 13:38.73
9 758 Justyn KNIGHT CANCAN 13:39.15
10 1076 Kemoy CAMPBELL JAMJAM 13:39.74
11 655 Patrick TIERNAN AUSAUS 13:40.01
12 734 Birhanu BALEW BRNBRN 13:43.25
13 1147 Cyrus RUTTO KENKEN 13:48.64
14 850 Awet HABTE ERIERI 13:58.68
  1402 Ryan HILL USAUSA DNS

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