IT’S A STEP TOO FARAH
It’s silver for Mo on Worlds farewell
Mo Farah received a 60,000-voice salute last night as he waved the World Championships goodbye.
But his dream send- off was blown apart as he slipped to silver in the 5000 metres.
Ethiopian ace Muktar Edris spoiled the party as he burst clear off the last bend.
Farah gave chase but was unable to pull out one more of his legendary surges to gold.
In a sprint for their lives, he didn’t quite have enough left in the tank.
Edris won in 13:32.79 with the past master less than a halfsecond behind and the USA’s Paul Chelimo nabbing bronze.
Farah, who still takes away the 10,000m gold he landed last weekend, said: “I had a couple of minutes to myself and realised ‘ This is it.’
“It’s no excuse. But the 10k took more out of me than I realised. I was trying to cover every tactical move. But the Ethiopians had a game plan.
“One was going to sacrifice himself. And they did that.
“The better man won on the day but I gave it all. I didn’t have a single bit left at the end.”
Scots star Andy Butchart followed him home in eighth place in 13:38.73 after he’d led early on before settling back into the pack.
Any hope the Dunblane Dynamo had of pushing himself onto the podium was wiped away when he was left behind when the leaders hit top gear.
Butchart said: “I made it hard for myself. I know I’m on a par with these guys.
“I’m expected to do well and put pressure on myself over the last few laps. But I’ll learn from it. I didn’t get caught out. I just wasn’t smart enough.”
Now Farah will gear up for his UK farewell in Birmingham next Sunday.
And good friend Butchart said: “He is the best distance athlete of all-time. 100 per cent . Even though he was beaten here.
“Look how long he’s been at the top – he’s got ten global titles. It’s just incredible. A silver here, it’s not the end of the world. His career’s been incredible.”
Given how Farah arrived off the plane from Somalia into London at the age of eight speaking
barely a word of English, his rags to riches tale will live long in the memory.
Usain Bolt said: “Mo has proven himself over and over. He’s done well for his country.
“For me, I’m surprised he’s actually going. I know he has a lot more years in those legs. It’s going to be sad to see him go.”
With Farah and Bolt exiting stage on the same night, the question is now where the next superstars are coming from who can top the bill, pack the stands and push athletics – even occasionally – into the spotlight.
The sport needs characters, not robots, athletics supremo Seb Coe admits.
And the IAAF chair said: “ThThere more needdffor us tto reallyll demonstrate that we have some incredible talent out there.
“If you just look at the youth that has sur faced in the championships. I’s the youngest cohort of medallists ever.”
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Sa l l y Pearson of Aus tr a l i a reclaimed the 100m hurdles title in 12.59secs.