Mighty Mo bows out with a win
MO FARAH last night ended his glorious track career by giving us a sight we have seen many times before – the Briton crossing the line victorious.
Except that in Zurich over the 5,000metres, there was no time for his trademark ‘Mobot’ celebration as it was almost a blanket finish before Farah was given it by just four-hundredths in 13:06.05.
It was the distance at which he was denied at the World Championships earlier this month with silver behind Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris. The field was just as strong here. Farah led at the bell and they gathered on his shoulder.
It was so close the result was in doubt until confirmed on the scoreboard: win No32 for Farah out of 35 races at 5,000m and 10,000m in the past seven years.
USA’s Paul Chelimo, Edris and Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha were all within 0.13secs.
“It’s my twins’ birthday today so what a special present for them and to know that I’ve ended my career on their birthday with a win. It can’t get any better than that,” said Farah.
The victory was clearly more important for him than the $50,000 he picked up as winner of the Diamond League final.
It is perhaps the right time for the four-time Olympic and six-time world champion to move up to the marathon. As he said: “They are getting closer and I’m not getting any younger.”
Farah added: “I wanted to win and it is amazing that I have won, but it was hard work. I will miss the track, the people, my fans. I have enjoyed running in stadiums for a lot of years, but now first of all I will enjoy being with my family.”
Earlier, another British win went to Chijindu Ujah, whose 9.97 in the 100m put him ahead of world champion Justin Gatlin and former world record-holder Asafa Powell.
The biggest triumph of his career went some way towards making up for the disappointment of failing to make the world final.