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Ethiopian Mare Dibaba lived up to her billing as the world’s fastest marathon runner by winning the gruelling event at the world championships in a sprint finish on Sunday.
Dibaba timed 2hr 27min 35sec to edge Kenya’s Helah Kiprop by just one second after a sprint in the final 50 metres of the race held in overcast, relatively cool conditions.
Kenyan-born Bahraini Eunice Kirwa claimed bronze in 2:27.39, while defending champion Edna Kiplagat could only finish fifth (2:28.18) behind Kenyan teammate Jemima Sumgong (2:27.42).

Read all our World Athletics Championships coverage here
Olympics-bound Christy Yiu Kit-ching from Hong Kong was 32nd in 2:43.28 in her first World Championships.
“I was confident because my last lap is fast,” said Dibaba.
Dibaba set a rip-roaring pace over the last five kilometres, too fast for Kiplagat who dropped off. Sumgong then also found the pace too much, meaning the three podium finishers bolted into the Bird’s Nest stadium alone and with all to race for down the 100m of track usually reserved for the likes of speed king Usain Bolt.


Kiprop tried to move on Dibaba on the outside, but the Ethiopian kicked home with a spent Kirwa settling for third.
“It all came down to a sprint in the stadium!” said Dibaba.
“Since I arrived in Beijing the weather was very hot and I was scared about that for the marathon. But this morning the weather changed. It is very similar to our country and easy for us to our own race.

“From now on I will concentrate on the Rio Olympics in my training.”
Kiprop added: “Everybody was strong and it was very close. I was excited when I entered the stadium because I didn’t expect this result.”
The 25-year-old Dibaba, racing her 12th marathon, briefly transferred to Azerbaijan in 2009 under the name Mare Ibrahimova.

But she did so with a false birth date that was noted by IAAF in time to prevent her competing for her new country at the European junior championships, though she did go on to contest the Euro team championships for the Azeri team.
Dibaba then reverted to her Ethiopian citizenship, and this year finished first in the Xiamen marathon in a personal best-equalling 2:19.52 and came in second in Boston.



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Hong Kong's Christy Yiu 'runs through wall' for respectable marathon finish in world championships debut

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2015 IAAF World Championships

Mare Dibaba wins World Championships marathon by a second in stunning sprint finish

Mare Dibaba breaks the tape in the Bird's Nest. Photo: EPA

Mao watches the race. Photo: AFP

Mare Dibaba crosses the line. Photo: AFP

Spectators watch the race in a Beijing street. Photo: AFP

Twins Liina (R) and Lily Luik of Estonia pose for photographers after finishing 27th and 38th respectively. Photo: EPA

Mare Dibaba celebrates with Ethiopia's flag. Photo: Xinhua

Christy Yiu has stepped up to longer distances, including the marathon, since dominating 10km races. Photo: Nora Tam

Britain's Mo Farah makes history with 'triple double' in athletics

Britain's Mo Farah celebrates winning the final of the men's 5,000 metres at the world championships in Beijing. Photo: AFP

Mo Farah hits the finish line to win the men’s 5,000 metres at the world championships. Photo: AFP

Ashton Eaton lies exhausted on the track after finishing the 1,500 metres and winning the gruelling decathlon with a new world record. Photo: AFP

Belarus’ Marina Arzamasova (centre) wins the women’s 800 metres ahead of Canada’s Melissa Bishop and Kenya’s Eunice Jepkoech Sum. Photo: AFP

Russia’s Maria Kuchina sails over the bar to win the women’s high jump. Photo: AFP


Usain Bolt may be a megastar, but he can't outrun his sport's limitations

Usain Bolt's nights of glory last only a handful of seconds, but they are all worth it. Photo: EPA

Usain Bolt celebrates after winning the 200 metres final at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Photo: AFP

Usain Bolt celebrates his latest gold medal, in the 4x100 metres relay, with his teammates and British distance runner Mo Farah. Photo: EPA

Sport

China

Hong Kong’s Christy Yiu Kit-ching was 32nd in her first major world event


Ethiopian Mare Dibaba lived up to her billing as the world’s fastest marathon runner by winning the gruelling event at the world championships in a sprint finish on Sunday
