10 August 2013

Mo Farah (coach: Alberto Salazar) won GB & NI’s first medal of the 2013 IAAF World Championships as he clinched gold in a thrilling 10,000m race in Moscow.

Farah went to the front of the field with four laps remaining but bided his time before winding up the pace in the final 800m and using his trademark sprint finish over the last 200m to win gold in a time of 27:21.72, just ahead of Ethiopian Ibrahim Jeilan and Paul Kipngetich Tanui of Kenya.

The 30 year old added this victory to the world 5,000m title he won in Daegu two years ago and the two Olympic gold medals he won in London last summer to become the first Brit to win a world 10,000m title and the first British athlete ever to win four global titles.

Afterwards, Farah said: “It was very exciting. I remember two years ago the exact same thing happened but I knew Jeilan was capable so it was important that I had something left. He was right there and down the home straight I was thinking ‘another gear, another gear, another gear’ and I had that little bit more.”

2007 world champion Christine Ohuruogu (Lloyd Cowan) made a successful start to her 2013 campaign as she won her heat in comfortable fashion in a time of 50.20, her second fastest time of the season and the quickest time ever run in the first round of the women’s 400m at the IAAF World Championships.

Ohuruogu said: “I’m happy to get through to the next round. I need to go back and talk to my coach and get my breath back but I’m happy.”

All three British athletes advanced from the first round of the men’s 100m. Dwain Chambers (Rana Reider) and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Reider) secured automatic qualification for the semi-finals as both finished third in their heats with times of 10.14 and 10.16 respectively. James Dasaolu (Steve Fudge) finished fourth in his heat, but his time of 10.20 was enough to qualify in the third fastest loser spot.

Chambers said: “It was tough, but I got through. It felt like a hard race. I guess that’s one of the things that I have to cope with at my age. But I am happy with it. I wanted to give a better performance, but I did enough to get through and I have to make sure I find enough for tomorrow.”

After equalling his second fastest time of the season, Aikines-Aryeetey said: “It was a bit tentative; I’m not quite feeling the pop today. I popped up alright, ten was alright, twenty maybe, then I just started to lose them a little. I’m happy, just so excited to be here.”

After a nervous wait to see if his time would be fast enough to qualify, Dasaolu said: “I haven’t had the best of preparations since my 9.91. It’s been my first time out of blocks for two weeks, and I didn’t know where I was coming from as I haven’t been able to train as much. I thought I had third in the bag and I eased up to save energy like you do through the rounds, I’m glad it hasn’t cost me a spot in the semi-finals.”

In hot and humid conditions for the women’s marathon, Susan Partridge (Steve Jones) gradually moved through the field from 22nd place at the halfway point into 16th at the 30km mark, before crossing the line in tenth place with a time of 2:36:24.

The 33 year old was pleased with both her final result and the way that she ran her race: “It was about places today and I think that helped me psychologically as I started off and I was way back. For a minute I did wonder if I had been a little bit too cautious, but then I thought if I have then it means that I can come back quicker and pick people off faster.”

Sonia Samuels (George Gandy) ran her race in a similar way, continuing to catch people right into the closing stages as she gained nine positions in the second half of the race to finish in 16th place, running a time of 2:39:03. Samuels believes that her tactics paid off and that she got the best out of herself in testing conditions.

“It was really tough but I felt strong the whole way. I was patient and I didn’t go off too hard. I didn’t really warm up because I thought I’d use my first 10k to warm up and get going. There were people coming back to me who had gone off a bit harder but I’m just so pleased to make the top 20.”

In the women’s long jump qualification, Shara Proctor (Reider) needed just one jump to secure automatic qualification thanks to a leap of 6.85m. Proctor jumped the furthest of all the athletes in qualifying and was pleased that she could book her place for tomorrow’s final with relative ease.

“That’s all it took and that’s all it needed. That’s what I tried to do today – just go out there and get one jump in, but it’s surprising I got 6.85m when I was so far behind the board.”

Also competing in the long jump, Lorraine Ugen (Frank Attoh) fouled on all three of her attempts and therefore missed out on a place in the final. She said: “I need to work on my run ups a bit more. I was hoping that I’d sorted out my no-jumping problem but there is obviously some work to do to get behind the boards.”

Eilish McColgan (Liz McColgan) ran a three second personal best and a Scottish national record of 8:35.82 in the 3,000m steeplechase to finish seventh in her heat and qualify for Tuesday’s final as a fastest loser.

Following a recent injury, McColgan was delighted with her time and a place in the final: “To run a personal best after the last eight weeks that I’ve had is absolutely unbelievable. I’ve only managed to run twice a week and everything else is in the pool or on the cross trainer.”

For full results from the afternoon session of day one in Moscow please go to: http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-championships/14th-iaaf-world-championships-4873/timetable/byday

In tomorrow morning’s session, Will Sharman (Jerzy Maciukiewicz) will open his 110m hurdles campaign, Hannah England (Bud Baldaro) and Laura Weightman (Steve Cram) run in the 1500m heats and Nigel Levine (Linford Christie) will compete in the first round 400m.

Watch tomorrow morning’s session live on BBC1 between 6am-10am.

GB & NI medals at the 2013 IAAF World Championships: