MOSCOW, August 14 (R-Sport) – Two-time Olympic champion Meseret Defar led an Ethiopian one-two in the heats of the women's 5,000m at the world athletics championships on Wednesday, towing a field of 15 runners into Saturday's final.
Defar, seeking a sixth world championship medal, was fastest over the two semifinals at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, crossing the line in 15:22.94.
Her 19-year-old compatriot Buze Diriba clocked in half a second back at 15:23.41. Third-fastest was Viola Kibiwot, the veteran Kenyan, in a time of 15:24.47.
Also among the qualifiers were Americans Kim Conley, Shannon Rowbury and Molly Huddle, and another Ethiopian contender in Almaz Ayana. World record holder Tirunesh Dibaba, also of Ethiopia, was not among the starters.
The championships run through Sunday.
