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Meseret Defar breaks 5 k world record in Carlsbad

2006-04-12

Meseret Defar wins in new world record time in Carlsbad
© Victah Sailer

The Ethiopian Meseret Defar set a new 5 k world record in Carlsbad (California). The 22 year old 5,000 m Olympic Champion of 2004 in Athens won in 14:46 minutes. In the men’s race the winner came from Ethiopia as well: Abreham Cherkose clocked 13:15.  

 
Meseret Defar, who finished second last year at the 5,000 m World Championships was beaten by her countrywoman Tirunesh Dibaba, ran right from the start her own pace and set a new world record. She bettered the old best time of Tirunesh Dibaba and Paula Radcliffe (Great Britain), who both ran 14:51 minutes, by five seconds. Isabella Ochichi (Kenya) finished second in a very good time of 14:53. The Ethiopian Ejigu Sentayehu came in third in 15:17. "I did not go to the World Cross Country Championships last week because I wanted to break the world record here in Carlsbad," said Meseret Defar.

 
In the men’s race a leading group of four people passed the first mile in 4:10 minutes. The pace was increased 400 meters later and Abreham Cherkose finally separated himself clearly from the group. Runner up was Boaz Cheboiywo (Kenya/13:28). Third place took Sammy Kipketer (Kenya/13:31), who set the current 5 k world record of 13:00 minutes by winning Carlsbad in 2001.