Posted: March 20, 2006

Athletics: Choge Prevails Over Mottram In Fast 5000M Final

From David Monti

© 2006 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

MELBOURNE (20-Mar) - The 79,000 fans who nearly filled the Melbourne Cricket Grounds tonight came to see Craig Mottram from nearby Geelong run a great 5000m and win the Australia's first Commonwealth Games men's distance title since Steve Moneghetti won the marathon in 1994.

But they only got half of their wish as the compact Kenyan, Augustine Choge, out ran the tall Australian in the final 250 meters to win Kenya's third straight Commonwealth Games 5000m gold medal. It was the fastest ever Commonwealth Games 5000m final; the top five finishers all surpassed Sammy Kipketer's Games record of 13:13.51 set in Manchester in 2002.

With the crowd on their feet throughout the 12 and one-half lap race, Choge and his teammates Joseph Ebuya and world champion Benjamin Limo, took turns at the front through the first 4000m. The pace was more than honest: 5:14.60 for the first 2000m and 7:53.86 at 3000m. Mottram stayed close behind the Kenyan trio running in fourth place, and Tanzania's Fabiano Joseph, the reigning world half-marathon champion, stayed right behind Mottram.

"My plan was to race a fast race," said Choge. "The plan was to push the pace."

But with two and one half laps to go, Mottram decided to move to the front, and the crowd went wild. Choge stuck with him, and soon the pair put a gap on Limo and Ebuya. Mottram was doing exactly what he had planned with his coach, Nic Bideau, and it looked as though he had taken control of the race.

"I followed the race plan (to go) with three or four laps to go," Mottram said later.

But Choge was prepared, and by respecting Mottram and wating out his move he was ultimately successful. He followed Mottram as he took the bell, and the Australian was already pressing hard. On the backstraight, Choge unleashed his sprint. Mottram responded, and at first closed up on the Kenyan just a bit. But rounding the final turn, Choge had a two-stride lead. Mottram's face showed the pain of the high pace, and Choge simply got to the line first, 12:56.41 to 12:58.19, and he had to run a sub-57 last lap to do it. Only slightly behind them, Limo beat Ebuya by 59/100ths of a second to get the bronze in 13:05.30.

"We knew he was a great runner," Choge said of Mottram. "I knew this was a great man and was in great shape."

"I ran as hard as I could," said Mottram and given the cheers he received when he received his silver medal, not one of the 79,000 fans doubted that. "The preparation was 100%. It worked, but we just couldn't get rid of Augustine."

Mottram will now rest up for Friday's 1500m heats. After tonight's drug test, he's headed to his mom's house for some spaghetti Bolognaise. There was no word on Choge's dining plans.

Comment on this story.

Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest