• Ayana beats previous record set in 1993 by 14 seconds
Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana obliterated the 10,000 metres world record when she ran 29:17.45 minutes to win gold in the opening track event of the Olympics on Friday, while Britain’s Jo Pavey finished 15th – one place ahead of team-mate Jessica Andrews.
Ayana’s time was 14 seconds inside the 29:31.78 set by China’s Wang Junxia in 1993.
Kenya’s world 10,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot tried in vain to keep up with Ayana but had to settle for silver while Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba, the defending Olympic champion, grabbed bronze.
All three women ran inside the old Olympic 10,000m record.
“I found it tough out there,” said Pavey.
“I’m so honoured to have competed at my fifth Olympics, but in reality I am getting old. It was fairly humid. I would like to have been more competitive, but I gave my best and that is all I could do .”
