Almaz Ayana Upsets Favorite Dibaba to Win World 5K Title

Almaz Ayana turned her 5,000-meter duel with Genzebe Dibaba into a rout at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing on Sunday, racing away from the 1500 world record holder to triumph by more than 100 meters in 14:26.83, a championship record. Ayana’s final 3K was run in 8:20.57.

Dibaba, who won gold in the 1500 earlier in the championships, was edged out for the silver medal in the final few meters by her teammate Senbere Teferi.

Dibaba defeated Ayana on July 4 in a 5,000 in Paris, 14:15.41 to 14:21.97, as both women chased Dibaba’s sister Tirunesh’s world record of 14:11.15. Dibaba’s coach, Jama Aden, had spoken of the possibility of a world record for his runner in the final in Beijing. Instead, she was barely a medalist.