5000m Women: Ayana joins the all-time elite with third best ever

World bronze medallist Almaz Ayana produced a brilliant front-running victory to smash the Shanghai meeting and Diamond League records and move to number three on the world all-time list. The 23-year-old Ethiopian took the lead at half way and gradually pulled away from a field of east African rivals to win in 14:14.32, a time only her legendary compatriots Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar have ever bettered. It was a bravura display from the African champion who left Kenya’s Viola Kibiwot adrift over the final 1000m as she powered towards victory. She was some 30m clear by the time she took the bell in 13:08, with Dibaba’s world record of 14:11.15 very much within sight. But despite a great effort over the last lap, she fell just three seconds short. Kibiwot was second in 14:40.32 while world cross country silver medallist Senbere Teferi took a surprise third for Ethiopia in 14:41.98, the 20-year-old beating her previous best by more than a minute and 20 seconds. There were PBs right through the field – nine in all – as the first seven women beat 15 minutes.