AWESOME ALMAZ THREATENS RECORD

AYANA GOES SECOND ON ALL-TIME 5000M LIST WHILE GREG RUTHERFORD CONTINUED HIS UNBEATEN RUN

BEN COLDWELL

ALMAZ AYANA narrowly missed the 5000m world record, clocking 14:12.59 to go No.2 on the all-time list at the Pietro Mennea Golden Gala Diamond League meet in Rome.

Almaz Ayana: ran the second fastest 5000m time in history in Rome

JEAN-PIERRE DURAND

Ayana won the world title in Beijing last year and has dominated during the early stages of the season, winning both her previous Diamond League races in Doha and Rabat, and made her intentions clear pre-race after demanding pacemakers go through the first seven laps well inside Tirunesh Dibaba’s world record pace.

The second pacemaker Beatrice Chepkoech stepped off the track after 2200m leaving the 24-year-old to run solo for the final seven laps and she passed the 3000m at 8:30.43 before slowing in the final five laps and just missing Dibaba’s time of 14:11.15 from Oslo eight years ago.

Greg Rutherford: continued his unbeaten run

Kenya’s 2013 world silver medallist Mercy Cherono ran a personal best in second of 14:33.95, highlighting the scale of the Ethiopian’s sheer dominance. British distance runner Steph Twell, enjoying being back from injury and running well, finished in a season’s best 14:59.00 – her second fastest ever.

Greg Rutherford also continued his imperious form in the long jump, registering a season’s best leap of 8.31m to finish well clear of a world-class field.

The Olympic and world champion opened up with a leading 8.03m effort before world leader Marquise Goodwin, who leapt 8.45m in France back in May, went out to 8.19m in the second round.

Ameer Webb won the 200m and ran a sub-10 100 behind Justin Gatlin

Rutherford immediately responded with his best jump of the day before the competition descended into confusion, with the top four jumpers opting to skip five successive attempts in their final three jumps, resulting in limited recovery time for the athletes.

“It was a bit of a farce,” Rutherford said. “Recovering between rounds is hugely important. You just get tired. It’s not easy. It’s only 45 metres and jumping into a sandpit but if you do it at the velocity that we’re doing it at, it takes a lot out of your body.