Mo Farah has to settle for silver in 5,000m in his final track race
LONDON (Reuters) – Mo Farah came up short in his attempt to end his track career with an incredible fifth consecutive 5,000m/10,000m double at a global championships on Saturday, finishing the 5,000m final at the World Athletics Championships in London in second place.
The 34-year-old was hoping to put the exclamation mark on his extraordinary track career before concentrating on the marathon, but finished behind Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris, who clocked a time of 13:32.79 minutes. Farah finished in 13:33.22m, with Paul Kipkemoi Chelimo of the US winning the bronze. (13:33.30m).
Earlier Saturday, Australia’s Sally Pearson completed one of the great sporting comebacks when she overcame two years of injury agony to win the world 100 meters hurdles title at the age of 30.
Pearson, world champion in 2011 and Olympic gold medalist in 2012, missed the last two seasons through hamstring and achilles injuries and a badly broken wrist but blasted back to win in 12.59 seconds, screaming “oh my God” repeatedly after crossing the line.
“I’ve worked so hard, I don’t know what has just happened out there. I’m so tired but I’m sure it will sink in soon,” Pearson said.
Dawn Harper Nelson, who won gold at the 2008 Olympics and was one of four Americans in the final, took silver in 12.63 ahead of Germany’s Pamela Dutkiewicz (12.72).
Favorite Kendra Harrison, who set the world record in the London Stadium last year having missed out on Olympic selection, again clattered too many barriers as she did in the semis and finished fourth in 12.74.
Defending champion Danielle Williams of Jamaica failed to make the final while last year’s Olympic champion Brianna Rollins is banned for a doping violation.
On Friday, Dutch powerhouse Dafne Schippers led from gun to tape to retain her world 200 meters title, holding off a spirited charge from Ivorian Marie-Josee Ta Lou, who had to settle for another near-miss silver.
With Olympic champion Elaine Thompson opting not to race the 200 and Tori Bowie pulling out after winning the 100, things had looked easier for Schippers, who took bronze in the 100, but she had to use every inch of her strength to hold off Ta Lou and win in 22.05 seconds.
“I fought for that,” Schippers said. “I have worked so hard this year so I am so happy. Two times in a row is very special.”
She joined American Gwen Torrence (1991-93) and Jamaican Merlene Ottey
(1987-95) as the only women to medal in both 100m and 200m at successive world championships.
“This last year was not the easiest for me. I changed everything and got a new coach, so I’m very happy,” Schippers added. “My secret is enjoying the sport and enjoying my racing. I feel a little bit nervous starting out, but I’m a final runner and I’m grateful for the experience now it’s over.”
Ta Lou had lost the 100m final by one hundredth of a second after failing to dip on the line and though she did lean this time she was just behind Schippers in 22.08, still a national record.
Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo, who stumbled in sight of gold and slipped to fifth in the 400m final, this time trailed badly coming off the bend but produced a barnstorming last 30 meters to overhaul 21-year-old home hope Dina Asher-Smith in 22.15.
“Another silver but I am so happy,” said Ta Lou. “At the camp before these championships I felt a problem in my legs but I didn’t want to tell my coach. I prayed that I would be ok and I have been. “
“I did all I could in that race. To get a silver medal is more than I could have asked for. I am so grateful for having a championships like this. It has been a special week for me,” she added.
American Brittney Reese claimed her fourth world long jump title on Friday after a tense, tight contest in which only six centimeters separated the top four competitors.
Darya Klishina, competing as a neutral athlete after the Russian federation was banned over state-sponsored doping, took silver for her first medal at a major finals after jumping seven meters for the first time in six years.
Titleholder and Olympic champion Tianna Bartoletta won bronze, squeezing on to the podium with her last jump ahead of Serbia’s Ivana Spanovic who missed out on a medal at a global finals for the first time since 2013.
Reese won with a leap of 7.02 meters on her third attempt and had to endure a nerve-wracking finale after receiving a red flag on her next three jumps.