Olympics: Kenyan Cheruiyot trumps Ayana for 5000m gold

PIC: Kenya's Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot celebrates her victory in the Women's 5000m Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 19, 2016.   / AFP PHOTO / Adrian DENNIS

Two-time former world champion Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya rained on Ethiopian Almaz Ayana's bid for an Olympic distance double, kicking with two laps to run to seal gold in the women's 5000m on Friday.

Cheruiyot, who won silver in the London Games four years ago, timed a new Olympic record of 14min 26.18sec, with team-mate Hellen Obiri taking silver in 14:29.77.

Ayana, who set an amazing world record to win the 10,000m earlier in the week, had to be happy with bronze.

"Almaz got ahead but then I thought 'she's not moving'. I went past her," said Cheruiyot.

"Almaz is such a great athlete, we thought she would win again. I'm so happy."

Japan's Miyuki Uehara set the early pace at the Olympic Stadium, Ayana sitting comfortably in second, with Cheruiyot and Obiri on her shoulder.

With eight laps to go, Ayana surged, immediately splitting the field as the eventual Kenyan medallists, team-mate Mercy Cherono and Kenyan-born Turk Yasemin Can battled to stay with the Ethiopian.

Ayana timed 7:39.8 through the halfway point, but suddenly flagged.

Cheruiyot duly reeled her in and took the lead with 800 metres to run.

The Kenyan turned the screw and belted through the final lap, followed by Obiri, as the tiring Ayana held on for the final podium spot.