Mefar debutó en 10.000m con 31.07 (Estocolmo, 30/may/09)

En su debut en 10.000 metros, Defar marcó tiempo líder 2009 con 31:07.34 en Estocolmo (foto: Hasse Sjögren)

Meseret Defar clocked a world-leading 31:07.34 to win her 10,000m track debut in Stockholm on Saturday (30).

But the 2007 World 5000m champion and the World Athlete of the Year that season said she was disappointed with the outcome of her eagerly anticipated debut over the distance.

"I'm not happy at all, It was very windy," said Defar, who this past winter broke the world indoor record in the 5000m in Stockholm.

"I want to race in both the 5000 and 10,000 meters in Berlin, but this time is not enough."

Defar, along with compatriots Werknesh Kidane and Ahaza Kiros reached the midway point in 15:43, already well off of their intended sub-31 minute target. Struggling in the 26 C. heat, Defar didn't make her break from Kidane and Kiros until the final 2000m.

Defar said that her next race will be at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games in Oslo, the second leg of the ÅF Golden League, on Friday, 3 July, where she'll run the 5000. She didn't rule out another 10,000m race if an opportunity were to arise.

The race was held in conjunction with the Stockholm Marathon. With dominating performances, Paul Kipkemei Kogo of Kenya won the men's race in 2:15:35 and Isabellah Andersson defended her title in the women's in 2:33:52, a personal best.

Resultados:
1. Meseret Defar 31:07.34
2. Werknesh Kidane 31:19.00
3. Ahaza Kiros 31:52.99

Splits por km:
01- 3:05
02- 3:07
03- 3:08
04- 3:10
05- 3:13
06- 3:07
07- 3:09
08- 3:09
09- 3:03
10- 2:56

fuente: Bob Ramsak for the IAAF