Farah hopeful of replicating his Olympic double
DOUBLE Olympic champion Mo Farah admitted he was conscious of conserving energy during yesterday’s 5,000m heat in the hope of adding to his world 10,000m title in Friday’s final.
Farah cruised over the finish line in 13 minutes 23.93 seconds – almost 30 seconds slower than his personal best – to finish in the fifth and final qualification spot from the second heat in Moscow.
However, Farah revealed a slow final lap was not a cause for concern; instead it was part of the plan to replicate his historic London 2012 success.
“You have to do the job without going crazy,” said the 30-year-old.
“I just wanted to do as little work as possible to be fresh in the legs, ready for the final.
“Galen [Rupp, Farah’s training partner] and I looked across and, with top five qualifying, I said save as much energy as you can.
“I wanted to run comfortably and not sprint all out and tire myself for Friday.”
Heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson scored a personal best 6,449 points, but the 20-year-old missed out on winning a bronze medal by just 28 points and had to settle for fifth place.
Andrew Osagie ran a season’s best 1.44.36 to finish fifth in the 800m final, while Eilish McColgan placed 10th in the 3,000m steeplechase.
Perri Shakes-Drayton and Eilidh Child reached the 400m hurdles final, but compatriot Meghan Beesley failed to progress, despite running a personal best time.
Olympic bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz cleared 2.29m to win the high jump qualifiers and move into the final, while world silver medal winner Hannah England eased into the 1,500m final.
Defending 400m hurdles champion Dai Greene, dogged by injury and illness in the build up to the competition, bowed out in the semi-finals, as did Sebastian Rodger and Rhys Williams.
Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford is in action this morning.