by Brett Larner
As in the 10000 m, Japanese women did the lion's share of the work in ensuring fast times in both heats of the women's 5000 m. Ranked well outside the top five of her heat, 5000 m national record holder Kayoko Fukushi (Team Wacoal) needed a fast race to have a chance at making the final. She took Heat One out at a solid 3:01 and led the next three km at a steady 3:03/km, but despite going under 3 minutes for the final km she was outkicked over the final lap by the pursuing pack, falling to 8th in a season-best 15:09.31 behind winner Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia) who led three under 15 minutes in 14:58.48.
It looked as though Fukushi might have a shot at making the final on time after 5000 m national champion Hitomi Niiya (Team Univ. Ent.) took Heat Two out slightly slower, but despite winner Gelete Burka (Ethiopia) running only 15:01.44 a denser pack meant Fukushi was shut out. Niiya almost tied Fukushi on time, improving from #10 to #7 on the all-time Japanes…
As in the 10000 m, Japanese women did the lion's share of the work in ensuring fast times in both heats of the women's 5000 m. Ranked well outside the top five of her heat, 5000 m national record holder Kayoko Fukushi (Team Wacoal) needed a fast race to have a chance at making the final. She took Heat One out at a solid 3:01 and led the next three km at a steady 3:03/km, but despite going under 3 minutes for the final km she was outkicked over the final lap by the pursuing pack, falling to 8th in a season-best 15:09.31 behind winner Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia) who led three under 15 minutes in 14:58.48.
It looked as though Fukushi might have a shot at making the final on time after 5000 m national champion Hitomi Niiya (Team Univ. Ent.) took Heat Two out slightly slower, but despite winner Gelete Burka (Ethiopia) running only 15:01.44 a denser pack meant Fukushi was shut out. Niiya almost tied Fukushi on time, improving from #10 to #7 on the all-time Japanes…