Mo returns for another Super Saturday success
MO FARAH invoked a little of the magic of Super Saturday by storming to victory in the 5000m at the London Anniversary Games yesterday.
The 33-year-old double Olympic Champion won his last race before Rio by a clear 200m in the fastest time in the world this year.
It set him up perfectly to defend his crown two-and-a-half weeks from now.
The pacemaker dropped out four laps from home leaving Farah in the lead and by the bell it was effectively a time trial.
Farah clocked in half-a-second under 13 minutes and there was a huge British bonus when Scot Andy Butchart powered through for second place in a blanket sprint finish.
“I just wanted to go for it,” said Farah. “It was my last chance to run quick before Rio.
“I love this track, it means a lot to me. Not many people get a chance to compete in their home town and I have so many memories of the place.
“Rio is right around the corner but it means a lot to get the win before going into those championships.
“I am in good shape but I have to keep my feet on the ground. Anything can happen. It’s all about staying patient now.”
Farah was the single member of the Team GB’s golden Super Saturday trio to revive the memories at a stadium that will be handed over the West Ham this week ahead of their Europa League game against NK Domzale of Slovenia.
Greg Rutherford had declined to compete because he didn’t want to risk injury and London 2012 poster girl Jessica Ennis-Hill made only a fleeting appearance in the long jump. She bowed out early in her much-anticipated battle against heptathlon rival Katrina Johnson-Thompson.
After three uninspiring jumps – each of them half a-metre below her best – the reigning World and Olympic Champion finished a disappointing seventh.
“I feel like I’m in a good place going into Rio but I would have loved to have jumped further today,” she said.
“I would have liked to have got closer to my personal best and taken some confidence from the long jump but it reminds me that there is still a bit of work to do.”
In stark contrast, Liverpudlian Johnson-Thompson, who posted a PB in the high jump on Friday, twice set season’s best distances and beat specialist long jumper and British record holder Shara Proctor.
“I’m happy with that,” she said. “There was good consistency throughout my jumps.
“It’s obviously good to get the win at this stage.”
The Great Britain men’s sprint relay teams got the afternoon under way in impressive fashion when they finished with a one-two.
The ‘A’ team – containing James Dasaolu, Adam Gemili, James Ellington and Chijindu Ujah – just edged out the ‘B’ team by three one-hundredths of a second in the fastest time in the world this year.
European Champion Martyn Rooney was disqualified for a false start in the 400m, illustrating just how fine the margins are under the one-strike-and-you’re out rule.
In his absence British rival Matthew Hudson-Smith took advantage to win in some style.
Scot Lynsey Sharp finished second to fellow Brit Shelayna Oskan-Clarke in the 800m before limping off for ice treatment after a bang on the knee.