The women's
5000 metres at the
2013 World Championships in Athletics was held at the
Luzhniki Stadium
The Grand Sports Arena of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex, commonly known as
Luzhniki Stadium, is the national stadium of Russia, located in its capital city, Moscow. Its total seating capacity of 78,011 makes it the List of football stadiums in R ...
on 14–17 August.
With
Margaret Wangari Muriuki dropping out injured in the first round, the finals had three Ethiopians (four if you count
Tejitu Daba) and three Americans and only two Kenyans. Also missing by design is world record holder
Tirunesh Dibaba who won the 10000 earlier, leaving
Meseret Defar the 5000.
The final started slow with the Ethiopians watching the front (the reigning Olympic champion Defar watching her teammates from the back), letting
Dominika Nowakowska then
Dolores Checa jog through 75-second laps at the front. With 2000 to go, the racing began,
Almaz Ayana took over the lead and the crowd disappeared. Within a lap, not surprisingly, the three Ethiopians and two Kenyans were running alone. Lap times were dropping, 71, 69, 68. In the next lap
Buze Diriba fell back to the trailing American duo of
Molly Huddle and
Shannon Rowbury. The two Ethiopians were leading, the two Kenyans trying to keep up. Shortly after the bell,
Viola Kibiwot lost touch with her teammate
Mercy Cherono and then there were three. Defar stayed tucked into second place waiting until the time was right. The time was 200 meters to go, that was when Defar accelerated past Ayana and into the lead. Cherono made no effort to go after Defar, she was gone sprinting to gold. Cherono waited through the turn and executed her best move to outsprint Ayana for the silver. So prepared for victory, Defar and Ayana had already received their flags and were displaying them while the early leaders were still finishing.
Records
Prior to the competition, the records were as follows:
Qualification standards
Schedule
Results
Heats
Qualification: First 5 in each heat (Q) and the next 5 fastest (q) advanced to the final.
Final
The final was started at 18:55.
Final ResultsArchived version
References
External links
5000 metres results
at IAAF website
{{DEFAULTSORT:2013 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 5000 metres
5000 metres
5000 metres at the World Athletics Championships
2013 in women's athletics