by Larry Eder
Meseret Defar, 2010 World Indoor Champs, Doha, Qatar, photo by PhotoRun.net.
Using a blinding final lap, Meseret Defar won her fourth straight 3,000 meter world indoor championship from Vivian Cheruiyot and Sentanyu Ejigu, much to the delight of the boisterous Ethiopian fans, who enveloped the stadium!
This race was frought with opportunities for Meseret Defar to get caught up, but, the three time champion, at the time, stayed out of trouble, always close to the front, but never in the bullseye!
Rene Kalmer of South Africa lead the first kilometer in 3:11.83, with Portugals’ Jessica Augusto on her shoulder. Meseret Defar, Sentenyehu Ejigu, Vivian Cheruiyot and Slyvia Kibet were following.
Augusto, the cross country specialist, lead through two kilometers in 6:03.79, with the usual suspects on her shoulder.
Augusto had increased the pace, to a 2:53 kilometer.Still, Defar controlled herself.
Augusto continued to lead, with Defar, Ejigu, Cheruiyot and Kibet in tow. It was not until two laps to go that Meseret Defar went around Augusto, as did Ejigo, Cheruiyot and Kibet. Meseret Defar was flying, but she was not all out.
Meseret Defar, 2010 World Indoor Champs, Doha, Qatar, photo by PhotoRun.net.
Defar was running well, with Ejigu, Cheruiyot and Kibet in full flights, Bekele hanging o as well as Sally Moreira.
It was as the last lap started, that Meseret Defar let it all hang out! Going into full sprint, Defar opened some land, as she cruised around the last lap, hitting the final straightaway in the lead, and taking her fourth world indoor title at 3,000 meters.
Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya, using her brutal kick to take the silver away from Sentayehu Ejigu. Ejigu held onto the bronze!
The last kilometer took 2:47, and the last 200 meters was just under 30 seconds! Meseret Defar had her fourth title, in a time of 8:51.17 (slower than her heat run).
Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya took the silver (her countrywomen, Kibet was fourth overall), in 8:51.85 and Sentayehu Ejigu, also of Ethiopia, took the bronze in 8:52.08. Sylvia Jebiwott Kibet of Kenya ran 8:52.16 in fourth, and Alemitu Bekele of Turkey was fifth in 8:53: 78.
After the race, Meseret Defar, was of course, magnanimous: “I wanted to thank the crowd, who encouraged me. Now, I will focus on world records at 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters outdoors!” Well, that will make the summer of 2010 exciting!
The U.S. runner Desiree Davila ran 9:07.24 for the 3,000 meters in the final, after running a personal best of 8:51.
This race belonged to Meseret Defar, who kept herself out of trouble, and kicked like mad when all were hurting!
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