Meseret Defar Throws Down The Gauntlet To Tirunesh Dibaba and Runs 30:08.06 World Leading 10,000

Defar is now only woman with two of ten fastest 10,000s ever run

by LetsRun.com
June 27, 2013

Earlier on Thursday, Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba put up a world leading 10,000 time of 30:26.67 in Ostrava. That didn’t last long as the world leader as a few hours later, her long time rival Meseret Defar smashed that time in a solo effort at the Folksam Grand Prix in Sollentuna, Sweden as she ran 30:08.06 in a race where second place was more than a minute back.

Defar was in the lead by 5k (15:13) and ran a negative split. The 30:08.06 is the 10th fastest 10,000 ever run and Defar is now the only person with two of the 10 fastest times ever run at the distance.

Quick Take #1: The 10 Fastest 10,000s Ever Run

 1      29:31.78   Wang Junxia                        CHN     09.01.73    1      Beijing                       08.09.1993
        2      29:53.80   Meselech Melkamu                   ETH     19.04.85    1      Utrecht                       14.06.2009
        3      29:54.66   Tirunesh Dibaba                    ETH     01.06.85    1      Beijing                       15.08.2008
        4      29:56.34   Elvan Abeylegesse                  TUR     11.09.82    2      Beijing                       15.08.2008
        5      29:59.20   Meseret Defar                      ETH     19.11.83    1      Birmingham                    11.07.2009
        6      30:01.09   Paula Radcliffe                    GBR     17.12.73    1      München                       06.08.2002
        7      30:04.18   Berhane Adere                      ETH     21.07.73    1      Saint-Denis                   23.08.2003
        8      30:07.15   Werknesh Kidane                    ETH     21.11.81    2      Saint-Denis                   23.08.2003
        9      30:07.20   Sun Yingjie                        CHN     03.10.77    3      Saint-Denis                   23.08.2003
        10     30:08.06   Meseret Defar                      ETH     19.11.83    1      Sollentuna                      14.06.2009

Defar stunned even seemingly herself last year when she beat Dibaba in London. This year, if she wins, it won’t be a huge shocker.

Quik Take #2: We were a bit surprised to see Defar, who has never medalled in the 10,000 before (5thi n 2009, DNF in 2011), in the 10,000 as we thought she and Dibaba might be content to avoid each other in Moscow. Not anymore. Dibaba has never lost a 10,000 in her life, but given how fast Defar ran tonight and that she’s also the world leader at 5000 (14:26.90), it’s hard not to say that Defar is now the 10,000 favorite in Moscow. Dibaba’s 5000 best on the year is just 14:42.01.

Sollentuna 10,000 Results
1    Meseret Defar    83        Ethiopian    30:08.06        WL AR
2    Afera Godfay Berha    91    Ethiopian    31:08.23        PB
3    Gotytom Gebreslase    95    Ethiopian    31:51.42        PB
4    Aheza Kiros    85        Ethiopien    32:32.23
5    Aynensh Niguse    92        Ethiopian    33:40.59
Viktorya Pohoryelska    90        Ukraine    DNF

More: LRC Vault: Women’s 2012 Olympic 5,000 Final: Meseret Defar Stunningly Stops The Coronation Of Tiruneh Dibaba