Ethiopia's Defar wins first world 5,000 title

OSAKA, Japan, Sep 1 (Reuters) Ethiopia's Olympic champion and world record holder Meseret Defar clinched her first world title with a decisive victory in the 5,000 metres today.

The 23-year-old was left as the overwhelming favourite for the race after team mate Tirunesh Dibaba decided to skip the 5,000 metres because of illness following her 10,000 metres triumph.

Biding her time in the humid conditions, Defar took the lead on the penultimate lap and kicked on the final run down the back straight to leave the field for dead, crossing the line in 14 minutes 57.91 seconds.

''In Osaka, I am the world champion and it feels great,'' Defar, who is taking part in her third worlds, told reporters.

''It was a very slow race and it was an easy race for me.'' Vivian Cheruiyot was second in 14.58.50 with her fellow Kenyan Priscah Jepleting Cherono pipping a third compatriot, Sylvia Jebiwott Kibet, at the line for bronze in 14.59.21.

Defar finished with silver in this event in Helsinki two years ago when Dibaba did the 5,000 and 10,000 metres double but would have fancied her chances in any case having set a new world mark of 14:16.63 in June.

''Tirunesh is a very strong athlete and a good competitor for me,'' Defar said.

''I am sorry she is sick and not here. But she is the 10,000m champion and I am the 5,000m world champion so that is good.'' SLOW PACE Japan's Kayoko Fukushi set off at the front and the rest of the field seemed to content to let her set a slow pace in the heat of the Osaka evening.

Defar sat in second place until the local hope faded just before the 3,000m mark and Cheruiyot took up the running with a brace of her compatriots in attendance.

Defar finally hit the front with her team mate Meselech Melkamu a lap before the bell as the field trailed right across the track looking for space to make a move.

Challengers came and went but Defar just upped the pace until, with 200 metres to go, she hit her finishing stride and streaked away to victory.

''I am so excited about my silver medal,'' said Cheruiyot, who is also 23.

''These are my first world championships ... I was expecting second because Meseret is very strong, especially on the last lap.'' Kibet, who ran a personal best for fourth place, should have had bronze but changed down too early and lost out to the fast-finishing Cherono by half a step.

REUTERS PDS PM1954