Posted: June 3, 2006

Athletics: Dibaba Wins, Bekele Upset At Oslo

From David Monti

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

By Bob Ramsak

OSLO (02-Jun) -- Tirunesh Dibaba's powerful win in the women's 5000 meters and Isaac Songok's upset victory over Kenenisa Bekele in the men's race at the same distance generated the distance highlights at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games, the first stop of the six-meet IAAF Golden League series, which was held in cool conditions.

When pacemaker Olga Komyagina dropped out 2200 meters into the race, Dibaba took over to do much of the work herself, reaching the 3000 meter point in 8:43.18. Briefly exchanging the lead with Kenyan Edith Masai over the next few laps, the Kenyan took control with three laps to go, but didn't manage to shake the five women chasing her. Dibaba made her final move at the bell with older sister Ejegayehu giving chase. But the younger Dibaba's extraordinary 57.98 final 400m turned the final lap into a battle for second.

Dibaba reached the line in 14:30.40, a personal best and the eighth fastest performance ever. Sister Ejegayehu held on for second in 14:33.52 while in third, Masai, at 39 years of age, lowered her own Kenyan record to 14:33.84. In all, seven of the first nine women ran to personal bests.

"I had a lot of power that last lap," said the 20-year-old, who last year became the first athlete, male or female, to win both the 5000 and 10,000 meter titles at the same world championships.

The biggest upset of the evening came in the men's race where Songok kicked past Bekele en route to a 12:55.79 win, also an early-season world leader, taking four other men under the 13 minute mark.

"I didn't think it was possible to win this race," said Songok, 22, who was a distant tenth in the event at last year's world championships. "Now I am ready for the big upcoming races."

Bekele's younger brother Tariku helped with much of the mid-race pacing but Songok, the year's fastest so far in the 3000, tagged along comfortably, patiently biding his time until he pounced with just under half a lap to go. Bekele simply couldn't respond, and suffered his first outdoor defeat since he finished second in the event at the 2004 Olympic Games to Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj.

In the Dream Mile, Alex Kipchirchir kicked past Daniel Kipchirchir Komen as the pair entered the homestretch to win in 3:50.32, also a world-pacing effort. World indoor champion Ivan Heshko unleashed his trademark strong closing surge to pass Komen in the final 50 meters to finish second in 3:50.89.

In the men's 800 meters, Mohammed Al Azzimi maintained his world lead in the event, but it didn't come before the Kuwaiti dramatically tumbled across the finish line to hold of the closing attack of Dmitrijs Milkevics. The 23-year-old Al Azzimi stopped the clock in 1:44.59, lowering his previous best from 1:44.80 from Doha last month. Milkevics moved up to No. 2 on the world list with his 1:44.65 personal best.

In a close race, Janeth Jepkosgei of Kenya, the Commonwealth champion, won the women's two-lapper in 2:00.51, just a few steps ahead of rapidly-improving Rebecca Lyne of Great Britain. The Briton held off Jamaica's world indoor and Commonwealth silver medallist Kenia Sinclair, 2:00.67 to 2:00.73.

In the men's 1500 meters, contested prior to the main program, 2004 Olympic steeplechase silver medallist Brimin Kipruto kicked past compatriot Yusuf Biwott with about 150 meters to go to win in 3:36.65 to Biwott's 3:36.95 PB. Seventeen year-old Wesley Cheruiyot in third made it an all-Kenyan podium.

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