London 2012: Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia retains 10,000 m title

Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba during the IAAF Diamond League Prefontaine Classic on July 3, 2010 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. PHOTO/File

Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia put in a devastating last lap to retain her Olympic 10,000 meters title in London on Friday.

Dibaba, the double Olympic gold medalist in the 5,000m and 10,000m in Beijing, managed to shake off the Kenyan pair Sally Kipyego and Vivian Cheruiyot to win in 30 minutes, 20.75 seconds.

Kipyego, the 2011 world silver medalist, finished six seconds behind Dibaba, with Cheruiyot a further four seconds back for bronze.

Friday was the first day of the Olympic track and field events.