London 2012: GOLD FOR BRITAIN Mighty Mo brilliantly wins 10,000m

Saturday, August 4, 2012
10:03 PM

Mighty Mo Farah became the first Briton to win the Olympic 10,000m with a stunning, exhausting victory in the Olympic stadium to complete a golden night for Team GB.

Jessica Ennis and Greg Rutherford had already struck gold in the heptathlon and long jump respectively when the Newham & Essex Beagle took to the track.

He played it cagily, preferring to stay close to the back and out of trouble as they race settled down, but slowly, but surely he made his way through the field to get in among the leaders.

Reigning champion Kenlese Bekele was matching Farah stride for stride as the laps went down, until six from the end, both he and his fellow Ethiopian went to the front in an attempt to push the pace.

It didn’t work and with Masai of Kenya also in the mix, the last couple of laps looked like the end of the 1,500m rather than the longest race on the track.

Farah hit the front at the bell and roared on by a hysterical crowd, he held off the challenge of Gaylen Rupp of the United States as well as Tariku Bekele in third to win in 27.30.43.