EUGENE -



World record long-distance runner Kenenisa Bekele led an Ethiopian sweep in the 10,000 metres of the 2013 Prefontaine Classic, edging out Imane Merga on Friday at Hayward Field stadium. Bekele finished in 27 minutes, 12.08 seconds to beat out Merga (27:12.37) and Abera Kuma who finished third in a personal best 27:13.10.
"It is very important. I am happy I win again here," Bekele said. "I am injury free now." Bekele said he had hoped to run under 27 minutes, but the field wasn't strong enough on this day. "We decided to run under 27 but we didn't. From beginning, the pace was slow, and nobody pushed after that. It is very tough; I am only one person," said Bekele who ran the fastest time of the year in the event. "We sprinted with 200 metres left. It is an OK time." Bekele's younger brother, Tariku, was scheduled to run in the 10,000 but ended up pulling out. Tariku held off his older sibling for bronze in the London Summer Olympics.
"This is not the Olympics or World Championships, just trials," Bekele said. "He don't have to run. We have many races. He can join us in other races, the world championship or other strong races." Four of the top five finishers were from Ethiopia. Kenya's Bitan Karoki placed fourth (27:13.12) while Birhan Tesfaye (27:14.34) rounded out the top five.
The Prefontaine Classic is the fourth of 14 stops in the IAAF's elite Diamond League series. The event kicked off Friday night with a slate of distance events. James Kiplagat Lagut of Kenya won the mile with a time of three minutes, 55.24 seconds to beat Norway's Henrik Ingebrigsen, who clocked 3:55.50. Kenya's Daniel Kipchirchir Komen was third in 3:56.13.
The runners return to Hayward Field on Saturday when Britain's Mo Farah, the 5,000 and 10,000 Olympic gold medallist who trains in nearby Portland, will run in the 5,000. The field also includes training partner Galen Rupp, from the US, and London bronze medallist Thomas Longosiwa, from Kenya.