Ethiopian Hagos Gebrhiwet Upset Mo Farah at 2015 Diamond League in Doha – (VIDEO)

2013 World Championship silver medalist at 5000 Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopia, who turned 21 just four days ago, gave himself a nice birthday present as he took down reigning double Olympic and double world champion Mo Farah of Great Britian to win the men’s 3000 at the season’s-opening IAAF Diamond League track and field meeting in Doha, Qatar. Gebrhiwet used a 54-flat last lap to go from fourth to first and just hold off Farah in 7:38.08 to Farah’s 7:38.22. It was Gebrehiwet’s first career victory over Farah (0 for 3 coming in) and Farah’s first loss on the track since July 2013.

Coming in everyone expected Farah to smash Dave Moorcroft‘s nearly 33-year-old British record of 7:32.79, which had stood since July 17, 1982, but no one went with the rabbits as the race was run in 96-degree heat (35.5 Celsius).

Farah looked to be in control with 800 meters remaining as he was where he seemingly is in track races, in front on the rail, controlling a tactical race. He still led as they approached the bell. However, 17-year-old Yomif Kejelcha, the reigning World Youth and World Junior champion at 5000, didn’t follow the normal script. He took the lead just before the bell with a surge that Farah didn’t respond to initially. At the bell, Kenyan Thomas Longosiwa (who would wind up third in 7:39.22) was in second with Farah third and Gebrhiwet second. Kejelcha’s surge proved too be too much too soon as he’d fade over the final 200 and end up fifth in 7:39.99 but it totally shook up the race.Four different men held the lead over the final 450 meters in a wild finish. In the end, it was Gebrhiwet who emerged victorious, holding off Farah over the final 75 meters to earn a big win in front of a raucous crowd full of Ethiopian fans.

Results

POS
ATHLETE
COUNTRY
MARK

POINTS
1
Hagos GEBRHIWET
ETH
7:38.08