By Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana smashed the world record to win Olympic gold in the women’s 10,000m in Rio. The 24-year-old, racing the distance on the track for only the second time, obliterated the field to finish in 29 minutes 17.45 seconds, breaking the previous record by over 14 seconds.
Britain’s Jo Pavey was 15th in her fifth Olympics at age 42, setting a season’s best time of 31:33.44. Kenya’s Vivian Cheriot, the 2012 bronze medalist, finished second in 29:32.53.
Defending champion Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia only managed third but in a personal best time of 29:42.56, one of 18 personal bests in the race.
“I found it tough out there,” said Pavey.
“I’m so honoured to have competed at my fifth Olympics, but in reality I am getting old. It was fairly humid. I would like to have been more competitive, but I gave my best and that is all I could do.”
Ayana, the world champion at 5,000m, recorded the fastest 10,000m debut in history at the Ethiopian Olympic trials in June, clocking 30:07.00.
She becomes the first woman to break a 10,000m world record at an Olympic Games. Britain’s Jess Andrews finished one place behind Pavey in a PB of 31:35.92 and Beth Potter was 34th in 33:04.34.
