29 August 2015

Mo Farah (coach: Alberto Salazar) completed an unprecedented triple double as he claimed his second gold of the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China.

Seven days on from winning 10,000m gold, there was just no answer from Farah’s opposition in his quest to retain his 5,000m title. Farah started the race sat at the back of the pack as the race eased through 4km in a comfortable 11:31.18, before a blistering 2:19.20 last kilometre saw him triumph once again crossing the line in 13:50.80. 

However, it once again relied on Farah’s last lap kick after Kenya’s Caleb Ndiku made a brave attempt to dethrone the 32 year old. The result was never in doubt as he clocked an astonishing 52.6 second last 400m to bypass Ndiku and add to his claim his second gold in the Bird’s Nest Stadium.

“It’s definitely been hard, but it’s been incredible to make history and win so many medals for my country. It means so much.

“Seven years ago with (Kenenisa) Bekele winning everything, I remember saying to myself of all the medals he has, if he gives me only one. To change in seven years, is incredible and it hasn’t been easy.

“If you said to me seven years ago you would have one medal, I would have said okay. To win as many medals as I have is incredible.”

After taking up much of the front running until the halfway point, Farah’s teammate Tom Farrell (Mark Rowland) finished in 15th place in 14:08.87.

In the women’s 4x100m, the quartet of Asha Philip (Steve Fudge), Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie), Jodie Williams (Christine Bowmaker) and Desiree Henry (Rana Reider) broke the British record en route to a fourth place finish.

The relay team made it the fourth British record to fall at the Bird’s Nest, taking the previous best time of 42.21 down to 42.10. 

Williams, who ran the third leg of the record-breaking relay said: “It’s bittersweet – national record but fourth place, we were definitely coming for a medal. Everything went as planned, the changeovers were smooth and we really, really pushed the boundaries so I don’t think we could have done much better.”

After securing her place in the 800m courtesy of a lifetime best of 1:58.86, Shelayna Oskan-Clarke (Ayo Falola) went sub-1:59 once again to finish fifth in her first major global final. The 25 year old showed her world-class pedigree with an impressive performance, which saw her cross the line in 1:58.99 meaning that the two fastest times of her career have come in the Bird’s Nest Stadium.

Oskan-Clarke said: “I’m happy that I came here and managed to get to the final and show everyone that I can compete with everyone, and with the best of the world. I really just wanted to hold on down the home straight, but I’m happy and it’s been a great experience.”

It was heartbreak for the men’s 4x100m team after missing the final changeover between James Ellington (Linford Christie) and Chijindu Ujah (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo). Smooth changes from Richard Kilty to Danny Talbot (Dan Cossins) on to Ellington, set the team up for a strong finish, but they were unfortunately unable to bring the baton home.

After the disappointment, Talbot added: “It’s not just me – we’ve all done our bit, we’ve all come here to be the best in the world and we haven’t done it and it’s not good enough.

“We are easily in the top three nations in the world but we’re just not doing it. We win as a team, we lose as a team. It’s not just the four on the track. It’s also Harry (Aikines-Aryeetey) who ran this morning, Adam (Gemili) who came out here, hasn’t run, but put himself on the line because he wants to be part of the team, we’ve got Ojie (Edoburun). We’ve all got to come together and we’ll come back.”

British Athletics medals at the IAAF World Championships, Beijing, China

Gold (4) –

Mo Farah (5000m & 10,000m)

Jessica Ennis-Hill (Heptathlon)

Greg Rutherford (Long jump)

Silver (1) –

Shara Proctor (Long Jump)