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IAAF.org: Commonwealth Games - Choge holds off Mottram
2006-03-20
The race of the night at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne was the highly anticipated men’s 5000m final, billed as a clash between World champion Benjamin Limo of Kenya and Australia’s pin-up boy of distance running Craig Mottram. It didn’t turn out quite like that. Mottram beat Limo all right but another Kenyan, Augustine Choge, clung to the Australian’s heels over the last two laps and was too good in the sprint for home. He took the gold in 12:56.41, smashing the Games record by more than 17 seconds.
Mottram had the huge crowd on their feet as he fought of all but one of the Africans. But even the roar of nearly 80,000 Aussies couldn’t drive him past the Kenyan. He took the silver in 12:58.19, while Limo came home third in 13:05.30. “I’m a bit disappointed,” said Mottram. “I wanted to win, but that’s the nature of running. You win some, you lose some. I am happy I ran under 13 minutes. I didn't think I would be able to do that in Australia.”
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