By Amy Tennery
EUGENE, Ore. (Reuters) – Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay held off late challengers to win the women’s 5,000 metres at the World Championships on Saturday as world record-holder Letesenbet Gidey faded down the straight to miss the podium.
Tokyo bronze medallist Tsegay traded the lead with compatriot Gidey, the world 10,000m champion, throughout the race until the pack took off for the final lap.
The Netherlands’ 5,000m Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, known for her ferocious kick, delivered her challenge with 200m to go after weaving to the inside but could not maintain her speed as Tsegay charged down the final straight.
Kenyan Beatrice Chebet took silver and Ethiopian Dawit Seyaum finished with bronze.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in Eugene, Oregon, additional reporting by Gene Cherry; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
