By Bob Ramsak
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.
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