July 23, 2008
By Bob Ramsak
(c) 2008 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - used with permission
Meseret
Defar came tantalizingly close to regaining the world record in the
5000m, while Craig Mottram notched a convincing win at the DN Galan
Super Grand Prix meet in Stockholm last night.
Defar, the
reigning Olympic champion in the 5000m, ran solo from the two kilometer
point onward and produced a brave run. She crossed the line in
14:12.43, the second fastest performance ever, and slightly more than
one second off of the world record. Six weeks ago her Ethiopian rival,
Tirunesh Dibaba, clocked 14:11.15 in Oslo, but in the Norwegian
capital, Dibaba had help later in the race, something Defar was missing
in Stockholm. Defar closed with a 60.37 final lap (faster than Dibaba
when she set her record. After glancing at the clock she fell the
track in tears, and perhaps in pain as well.
Also showing a
strong closing lap was Australian Craig Mottram in the men's 3000m.
"Buster" clocked 54.5 second for his final 400m circuit, despite taking
time to celebrate his victory in the final meters. He won in 7:37.73,
well clear of Kenyan Isaac Songok, who was second in 7:38.97. Qatari
Daham Najim Bashir got third in 7:39.45, while American Matt Tegenkamp
was fourth (7:40.75).
In the rarely contested one kilometer
race, teenager Abubaker Kaki of Sudan fell short in his world record
assault, but still produced an impressive victory in 2:13.93, to move
up to No. 7 all-time. The world indoor 800m champion led at the bell,
but was shadowed closely by Yusuf Saad Kamel, the former Gregory
Konchellah. Kamel couldn't match Kaki's now trademark finishing
strength and held on for second (2:14.72), with Olympic 800m champion
Yuriy Borzakovskiy, who was fifth entering the final turn, finishing
third (2:15.50).
In the 3000m steeplechase, Swede Mustafa
Mohamed led at the bell, but Kenyan Michael Kipyego was right on his
shoulder. Despite creating a small gap midway through the final turn,
Kipyego drew even over the final hurdle and went on to take the win in
8:14.35. Wesley Kiprotich also swept by the fading Swede over the final
few meters to take second, 8:14:52 to Mohamed's 8:14.77.
Meet
records in Stockholm are rewarded with one karat diamonds, and a small
handful of the $10,000 rocks were mined this year. Defar, Kaki hurdler
Dayron Robles and pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva all took home one of
the most unique souvenirs offered on the Grand Prix Circuit.
ENDS