Farah in ‘great shape’ to defend Olympic crown

MO FARAH believes he is heading into the Rio Olympics in the best shape he has ever entered a major championships after a mightily impressive display of front-running earned him a dominant 5,000 metres victory at the Anniversary Games.

The 33-year-old, back at the Olympic Stadium where at London 2012 he memorably completed the first of his three global long-distance doubles, destroyed the field, finishing with a storming final lap of 56.95 seconds to cross the line in 12mins 59.29secs, the fastest time in the world this year.

It was the Londoner’s quickest run since before the London Olympics and a major statement of intent in his final race before the Rio Games.

“No, never,” was Farah’s response when asked if he had ever gone into a major event in better shape. “But you can’t forget - is it harder for me to win my first Olympics or is it harder for me to defend? I think it’s harder for me to defend, because the rest of the guys have had four years preparation to try and beat me.”

Great Britain’s men’s 4x100m relay team also fired out a warning ahead of the Olympics by running the fastest time in the world this year of 37.78.

The quartet of James Dasaolu, Adam Gemili, James Ellington and Chijindu Ujah were just 0.05 off the 17-year-old British record, while the squad’s strength in depth was demonstrated by the fact Britain’s B team of Richard Kilty, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Danny Talbot and Ojie Edoburun came home just 0.03 behind in second.

Dina Asher-Smith, the European 200m champion who will race over that distance in Rio, stepped down to the 100m and finished fourth in 11.09, into a headwind.

The 20-year-old history student, who in the last four years has gone from a kit carrier at London 2012 to British record holder over 100m and 200m, declared herself “moderately happy”.

Matt Hudson-Smith claimed an impressive 400m win in 45.03 after Martyn Rooney, who will be one of the British team’s most experienced athletes in Rio, was disqualified for a false start.

Andy Pozzi was forced to pull out of the 100m hurdles final with cramp, having run a huge personal best of 13.19 in the heats, quicker than Dimitri Bascou’s winning time of 13.20.