Masai edges Dibaba in New York

Kenya's Linet Chepkwemo Masai, the World Junior record holder for 10,000m, got one over the World 5000m record holder and double Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia as she won the shorter distance at the 2009 Reebok Grand Prix in New York City.

Masai, who was 4th in 10000m at the Beijing Olympics and 2nd at the 2009 World cross-country championships, finished in 14:35.39 - the fastest time in the world this year - as the Ethiopian Olympic Champion struggled to keep up with Masai’s pace in the final stages to settle for 14:40.93.

Dibaba's younger sister Gezenbe, the World Junior Cross Country champion, was third in 15:00.79.

Masai said afterwards: "I'm so excited. I was not expecting that fast a time, 14:45 maybe.

"I was expecting [Dibaba] to pass me in the last lap, even when I saw the lead I had. I was surprised when she never showed up."

She has a personal best of 14:47.14 in the 5000m and is managed by the Pace Sports Management.

The now married Dibaba (wedded double Olympic silver medalist Sileshi Sihine last year) was competing in her first race of the season and as expected was not too downcast about her second place finish.

"This is my first race," Dibaba said.

"I also missed World Cross Country. I want to see how my fitness is in New York.

"I know that, after the Olympics, people expect me to win every race but I’m not really concerned with that," she added.

Top three finishers - women's 5000m

1 Linet Masai                     Kenya                 14:35.39A
2 Tirunesh Dibaba              Ethiopia              14:40.93A
3 Genzebe Dibaba              Ethiopia              15:00.79 

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