Mo Farah Thrills The British Crowd With Dominant Victory as Ryan Hill Surprisingly Takes Second

by LetsRun.com
July 27, 2013

With no top notch in-form competition from Kenya or Ethiopia in the field, Britain’s double Olympic champion Mo Farah did as he was expected and blew away the field to win the men’s 3000 in front of a huge crowd at the Sainbury’s Anniversary Games in London.

Farah took the lead with 500 meters remaining and within the span of about 20 meters, this race was 100% totally over as Dathan Ritzenhein and Tariku Bekele were left like they were almost standing still.

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Farah’s last lap of 55.23 resulted in a huge margin of victory (5.47 seconds) and a new outdoor personal best as his time of 7:36.85 eclipsed his previous pb of 7:38.15. Farah has run 7:34.47 indoors.

Farah goes to the lead with 500 left and this baby is over quickly Farah goes to the lead with 500 left and this baby is over quickly

“This is where I became Olympic champion and made my name. I enjoy this track,” said Farah to the BBC after the race. “It brought back great memories. I got really emotional about it. It was incredible . You know it was close in noise to the Olympics.”

While a dominant victory by Farah was expected, the name of the runner-up in this race was a surprise, however. The US’s Ryan Hill, who will be competing for the US in the 5000 in Moscow, had a nice last lap and moved from fourth to second, taking the scalps of Ritzenhein and Bekele in the process. Hill’s time was 7:42.35. American Andy Bumbalough also took the scalps of Ritzenhein and Bekele on the last lap as well as he was third in  7:42.91 as Ritz and Bekele paid the price for pushing the pace in the middle stages of this race (Bekele was the leader at 2k and Ritz pushed things from 800 out to 400 out).

Post-race analysis, race results, more race photos, and then the race video appear below.

Post-Race Thought #1: It’s amazing how quickly Farah gapped everyone when he hit the accelerator with 500 to go.

Post-Race Thought #2: Ritz took the lead here with 800 to go and was pushing it. For a brief while, we were dreaming of a track resurgence for the 30-year old. We know some have been speculating on the messageboard as to whether he could actually beat Galen Rupp in the 10,000 in Moscow. Those thoughts were totally extinguished for us on the last lap however. We know 3000 is short for Ritz but after his struggle on the last lap and Rupp’s 3:52 mile here, we’d be STUNNED if Ritz beat Rupp at Worlds.

Post-Race Thought #3: Unofficially, we had Hill in about 58.4 for the last lap. He was about a second down on Bekele/Ritz at the bell but ended up beating them by a lot.

Unofficially, we had Ritz in 61.9-62.0.

Post-Race Thought #4: Full results appear below. We just looked at them all for the first time ourselves and realized it was an awful day for the 2012 NCAA 10,000 and 5,000 champ Cam Levins of Canada (last in 8:00.99) and the USA’s Hassan Mead (12th in 7:51.56). Levins has run 13:15 this year and Mead ran 13:11 two weeks ago. An even paced 13:15 5000 goes through 3000 in 7:57.

Post-Race Thought #5: Approximate splits for leader:
30,
64,
64,
62,
60.66
60.75 Ritz has lead wtih 800 to go.
59.11 Farah to lead with 500 to go. Ritz third at bell.
55.23.

More: Discuss this race in our forum: RYAN MF HILL.
*Is Cam Levins done?

Rank Athlete Nation Result
1
GBR
7:36.85
PB
2
USA
7:42.32
3
USA
7:42.91
PB
4
ETH
7:43.98
5
USA
7:44.68
SB
6
ITA
7:45.31
SB
7
GBR
7:45.52
8
GBR
7:48.01
9
CAN
7:48.98
10
KEN
7:49.75
11
USA
7:50.50
12
USA
7:51.56
13
GBR
7:51.88
PB
14
CAN
8:00.99
KEN
DNF
Intermediate times:
1000m Kombich, Ismael Kipngetich (KEN) 2:38.50
 2000m Bekele, Tariku (ETH) 5:12.18
Race Photos
Ritz before the race Ritz before the race
Approximately 675 left and Ritz is pushing it, looking good. Approximately 675 left and Ritz is pushing it, looking good.

 Race Video (US Only)

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