Golden boy Farah leads home Thompson in British one-two
TRACK star Mo Farah became Britain’s first ever men’s European 10,000m champion last night after leading home a British one-two in Barcelona.
The London-based 27-year-old stormed home in a time of 28 minutes, 24.99 seconds, just ahead of GB team-mate Chris Thompson, who pipped Italian Daniele Meucci in a photo-finish to the silver in his first major championships.
Farah teased Spain’s Ayad Lamdassem into taking up the pace with two laps to go, before sprinting to victory to go one better than his silver medal in Gothenburg four years ago. “To wait for four years after last time is not easy,” said Somalian-born Farah. “This means so much to me. I had doubts in the winter when I thought it wasn’t right, and I had collapsed after a race.
“We [he and Thompson, inset,] were ranked one and two but its not easy to follow that, you have to work hard and use the right tactics. It’s awesome.”
Aldershot athlete Thompson was equally delighted, adding: “Before the race it was a complete rollercoaster but this season has gone so well.
“To finish second to this guy is an absolute honour. This is my gold medal right here.”
Elsewhere, British sprint trio Dwain Chambers, Mark Lewis-Francis and James Dasaolu cruised through to the semi-finals of the 100m, while Mark Rooney led three more into the semis of the 400m.