Heat 1: Gebrhiwet Wins Tactical Prelim, True Kicks To Second

BEIJING - Ethiopian Hagos Gebrhiwet took a very slow heat 1 in 13:45.00 and was followed closely by American Ben True who closed hard in the last 100m to finish second in 13:45.09. The race was super tactical from the onset, as the field passed 3,000m in 8:38, which made finding space tough and of course caused the race to be quite physical. 

Kenyan Edwin Soi was third behind True in 13:45.28, followed closely by Brit Tom Farrell, who like True, qualified for his first World Championships final in 13:45.29. Ethiopian Imane Merga was 5th in 13:45.41 to round out the qualifiers as no men would advance on time from this heat.

Ben True afterwards: “Today I just tried to stay as relaxed as possible, be as patient as possible and try to stay out of all that mayhem, but man it was a traffic jam, a lot of pushing and shoving.” “Today is always the most stressful one, because there’s nothing to win but a lot to lose.” 

True on his medal chances: “If I’m there with 600 to go I think I’ve got a shot.” 

Here's US sprinter Manteo Mitchell's thoughts on True:
 

Bennnnnn Truuuuuuuuue @flotrack @usatf pic.twitter.com/fWtQQXk3rE

— Manteo Mitchell (@ManteoMitchell) August 26, 2015

The 29-year-old True doesn’t have experience at this level, but he does have a Diamond League victory at New York from earlier this summer, something that no other American can say. His speed has been progressing nicely this summer, and though unlikely, True could find himself on the podium if all goes right on Saturday. 

Heat 2: Kejelcha Wins, Farah Almost Goes Down (Again), Hill and Rupp Advance On Time

The second wave was much quicker than the first one, as Ethiopian teenager Yomif Kejelcha won the brutally physical race in 13:19.38.

There was a lot of traffic throughout, and for the second straight race defending 5K champion Mo Farah nearly fell to the track after his leg was tripped by Canada’s Mo Ahmed with less than 200 to go. Like the 10K on Sunday night, Farah managed to stay on his feet, finishing second in 13:19.44. 

The BBC got a shot of Farah nearly going down in the last stretch of the men's 5K heats

Afterwards, Farah spoke about the fall and his chances to win his third straight World 5K title: “I’ve got to stay out of trouble, I’ve got to stay inside or outside, just stay out of trouble. I managed to stay on my feet, which is the important part. Just have to get ready for Saturday's race, it’s not going to be easy, three Kenyans, three Ethiopians.” 

The 32-year-old said he believes his main competition for gold will be Gebrhiwet and Kejelcha, as well as Kenyans Edwin Soi and Caleb Ndiku. Gebrhiwet is the only man to beat Farah this season in a distance above 1500m, as the 21-year-old took down Farah back in May at the Doha 3K. 

Gebrhiwet hadn’t raced since early June entering Beijing, as a slight injury kept him away from the track. But the Ethiopian, who was a close second to Farah two years ago in Moscow, looks to be fit again heading into Saturday’s final. 

Mo Ahmed had to play the waiting game after initially being DQ’d for his trip up with Farah, but after an appeal he was rightfully reinstated and will be his country’s lone representative in the final after Cam Levins failed to advance. Ahmed was third in heat 2 in 13:19.58.

Kenyan Caleb Ndiku finished fourth behind Ahmed, although the two men ran the exact same time of 13:19.58. The 22-year-old was the 2014 World indoor 3K champ, and looked sharp today as he continues to progress from an injury at the beginning of the season. 

Ndiku on Farah: “He is beatable”

Behind the final auto-qualifier, Bahrain’s Albert Rop in 5th in 13:19.61, the next five athletes all grabbed time-qualifiers to the final, including Americans Ryan Hill and Galen Rupp. Hill, who  was 6th in 13:19.67, felt “discouraged” that he couldn’t kick into the top five, which would have “been a good confidence builder.” 

Hill said that Farah’s trip-up caused him to go wide on the last curve, which made him run further than everyone else. The 25-year-old was 10th in the World Championships final two years ago in Moscow, and said he’s just looking to improve on that finish on Saturday.

Galen Rupp was 8th today in 13:20.78 to round out a trio of Americans advancing on to the final. There were questions about the 29-year-old’s fitness entering these championships, but after his brave 5th place finish in the 10,000m final on Sunday in 27:08, Rupp looks ready to roll for the 5K final. 

Of course, Rupp is a much stronger 10K runner than he is in the shorter distance, and just like the rest of the Americans, a medal for Rupp is unlikely. But who knows, if a tactical final turns physical, anything can happen with heavy traffic causing all sorts of mayhem.