Meseret Defar Tola wins women’s 5,000
Meseret Defar crossing the finish line to win the women’s 5,000-meter gold medal.
Aug 9, 2012, London, England (Sports Network) – Meseret Defar Tola put in a strong kick as reigning Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba faded on the home stretch, overtaking her Ethiopian teammate to win the women’s 5,000 meters Friday.
Defar completed the race in 15 minutes, 4.25 seconds to earn her second gold medal at the distance. She won the event at the 2004 Athens Olympics, but has been overshadowed in more recent races, including a bronze in 2008.
Dibaba entered Friday’s race as the defending champion and world record holder, and was trying to complete another distance double. She won both the 5,000 and 10,000 in Beijing four years ago, and repeated as 10,000 titlist last week.
The 27-year-old took over the lead with several laps remaining, but could neither break free nor hold her pace. Dibaba was passed by Defar and Kenya’s Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot in the final 100 meters.
Cheruiyot, the reigning world champion, was too far back to catch up to Defar’s final surge and crossed the line in 15:04.73 for silver.
Dibaba held on for bronze, coming in 0.90 seconds slower than Defar.
The women’s 1,500 m 1st and 2nd place winners are Turkish athletes, while the 3rd place is secured by Jamal Maryam Yusuf (aka Zenebech Tola) of Bahrain. Abeba Aregawi of Ethiopia finished 5th.
Final Ranking of women’s 5,000m
| Rk | Bib | Athlete | Mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1703 |  DEFAR Meseret |
15:04.25 |
| 2 | 2327 |  CHERUIYOT Vivian Jepkemoi |
15:04.73 |
| 3 | 1706 | DIBABA Tirunesh |
15:05.15 |
| 4 | 2336 | KIPYEGO Sally Jepkosgei |
15:05.79 |
| 5 | 1702 | BURKA Gelete |
15:10.66 |
| 6 | 2333 | KIBIWOT Viola Jelagat |
15:11.59 |
| 7 | 1871 |  PAVEY Joanne |
15:12.72 |
| 8 | 1849 | BLEASDALE Julia |
15:14.55 |
| 9 | 2859 |  GOLOVKINA Olga |
15:17.88 |
| 10 | 1258 |  ESHETE Shitaye |
15:19.13 |
| 11 | 3297 |  HUDDLE Molly |
15:20.29 |
| 12 | 1256 | DABA Tejitu |
15:21.34 |
| 13 | 2881 | NAGOVITSYNA Yelena |
15:21.38 |
| 14 | 3281 | CULLEY Julie |
15:28.22 |
| 15 | 2159 |  ROMAGNOLO Elena |
15:35.69 |
–sportsnetwork
Look again. From the best top 5, Oromos are 3. This makes 60%. It is Unbelievable!!!
Since A. Biqilaa (44 years long), Oromiyaans are leading the whole in both meaand women.
At the London Olympics 2012, Oromiyaans have won 6 Medals so far.
Go Go, Oromiyaa, Go Go!!! The ultimate victory is yours!!!
Oromiyaa shall be free!!!
Oromo ladies are really super stars. Although dibaba lost the gold, the gold has not lost an other oromo queen defar. As our legends are dominating the event, our people even dont have their right. Some our athletes run for an other country because of this situation. Let us fight for our freedom so that our athletics will be over delighted. Congra to our athletics!