LONDON, Aug 4: Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba’s rocket-propelled final lap lit up the first day of track and field in the Olympic stadium on Friday, as she produced her devastating trademark kick 600m from the line to retain her 10,000 metres crown.

Dibaba, 26, swept to glory in 30 minutes, 20.75 seconds, helped by a phenomenal final 400 which left her rivals trailing in her wake.

The race had been expected to provide fireworks between Dibaba, dogged by leg problems since winning the 5,000 and 10,000 double in Beijing, and Kenya’s double world champion Vivian Cheruiyot.

The imperious Dibaba was in no mood for a dogfight though, bursting clear at the bell with a surge of acceleration that Cheruiyot, who has played second-fiddle to Dibaba for most of her career, had no answer to.

“I have never been happier like today,” Dibaba told reporters. “It’s very special. I have worked very hard for this. No one has ever done what I did today. I won (back-to-back) 10,000 gold medals and one 5,000.”

Kipyego took silver in 30:26.37 with Cheruiyot, never in a position to utilise her feared finishing kick, coming home third in 30:30.44.

Dibaba’s achievement meant she matched her cousin Derartu Tulu in becoming the second woman to win two Olympic gold medals in the women’s 10,000m. It also meant that Kenya have still never won the event.—Agencies