Posted: January 15, 2005

Athletics: Tirunesh Dibaba Upsets Johnson In Edinburgh

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

By Bob Ramsak

EDINBURGH – After a dramatic stride-for-stride kick in the final 50 meters, reigning world 5000 meter champion Tirunesh Dibaba upset world cross country champion Benita Johnson to successfully defend her Great North title at today’s View From Great Edinburgh Cross Country in the Scottish capital.

Running in wet and extremely muddy conditions, the 19-year-old Dibaba edged the 25-year-old Australian by less than a second, covering the 6.3 kilometer course in 21:35.

"I’m very happy to win here," said Dibaba after what will be her only cross country race of the year prior the world championships in March. "I felt very confident in the final 500 meters."

"She was just slightly stronger than me in the end," said Johnson, "but I’m looking forward to racing her again in two months time."

The four Ethiopians in the strong field --Dibaba, her sister older sister Ejegayehu, Meselech Melkamu and Etalemahu Kidane-- took turns with the lead during the race’s first half, injecting surges that quickly strung out the field. 13 minutes into the contest, just seven remained in contention: the Ethiopian quartet, Johnson, and Kenyans Hilda Kibet and Susan Chepkemei. The 23-year-old Kibet, a cousin of Lornah Kiplagat who has only been running seriously for about two years, took the lead briefly with Tirunesh Dibaba following closely and comfortably.

Two minutes later, Kibet began to struggle, with Johnson, Tirunesh Dibaba, and Melkamu, last year’s world junior champion at both cross country and 5000 meters, taking turns with the lead.

Johnson made her move in the final kilometer-and-a-half, but she couldn’t shake Dibaba, who timed her finish brilliantly.

"My tactics were just to stay relaxed as long as I could and to stay in the pack and just get the first 4-K done," Johnson said, "and 2 kilometers out to try and make a move for the finish. The Ethiopian girls were very strong --all four of them. They’re fantastic runners and I’ve got a lot of respect for them."

Despite the near loss, Johnson said he performance bodes well for a successful title defense in March at the world championships in St. Etienne – St. Galmier, France.

"Coming second was a bit disappointing, but it’s very promising, showing that I’m very fit at this time of the year, which is a good time, going into world cross. I can still get quite a bit fitter than I am."

Johnson has three more cross country races in Europe on her schedule before returning to Australia to contest the national trials for the summer’s world championships on the track.

Dibaba won’t be running another cross country race prior to the world championships, where she will compete in the 4-K event. The only other meet currently on her calendar is the Reebok Boston Indoor Games on Jan. 29, where she’ll contest the 3000 meters.

Melkamu took the final podium spot, finishing eight seconds behind Johnson, with Kidane reaching the line nine seconds later. Kibet was fifth in 21:54, with Chepkemei, running her first race since her runner-up finish at November’s ING New York City marathon, another four seconds back, finishing sixth. Hayley Yelling, who race to the European title in Heringsdorf, Germany last month, was eighth.

Look for complete results in Monday’s Race Resukts Weekly.