Close Finish in Zurich Sees Mo Farah Leave the Track On Top

By Adam Kopet

This season marked the last year Mo Farah would compete on the track. His last track race came Thursday at the Weltklasse Zurich, the first of the two Diamond League final meetings.

Competing in the 5,000 meters, the same race distance he finished second Aug. 12 to Muktar Edris of Ethiopia at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships, Farah had the chance to turn the tables and come away the victor.

After the pace setters led the pack through 3,000 in 7:51 and dropped out, Canada's Mohammed Ahmed found himself in the lead. He pushed the pace for another lap, but he eventually slowed when the likes of Farah and Edris queued up on his shoulder.

Farah held the lead with 1,000 meters to go, but the big push to the finish did not happen until later. Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha switched into top gear on the back-straight, forcing Farah to respond. Then Edris made his move too. The trio were three wide at one point.

Farah held the lead through the final turn, but three other men were just behind him, hoping to pounce, including Paul Chelimo, who had closed the distance on the front three through the final two turns.

Unlike past races, Farah was not successfully able to pull away from his competition as all four men sprinted for the finish line.

In the end, Farah pulled out the win, finishing in 13:06.05. Chelimo and Edris both finished in 13:06.09, with Chelimo getting the preliminary nod for second and Edris crashing to the track, bringing Kejelcha (13:06.18) with him.

Chelimo ended up disqualified for the contact with Edris, as he tried to force his way through a gap between Farah and Edris that was not big enough. He made contact with both runners with his hands.

However, the result of the race was all about Farah. He not only won his final track race, but won the Diamond League final as well and the $50,000 that comes with it. Mutaz Essa Barshim, the world champion high jumper from Qatar, came over and celebrated with him.

From here, Farah moves to the roads with a focus on the marathon. He ran the 2014 London Marathon, finishing eighth in 2:08:21.