Almaz Ayana was unbeatable, admits Tirop

Gold medallist Ethiopia's Almaz Ayana (right) and silver medallist Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba pose after the final of the women's 10,000mat the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London on August 5, 2017. PHOTO | KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV | AFP

What you need to know:

  • World Cross Country champion Irene Cheptai came in seventh also in a season’s best of 31:21.11.
  • Tirop said she still have two Diamond League races in Zurich and Brussels before closing her season.
  • It was Kenya's second bronze medal after Paul Tanui settled third in men's 10,000m on Friday

Kenya relinquished the World 10,000m title to Rio Olympic champion Almaz Ayana, who destroyed the field as 2015 World Cross Country champion Agnes Jebet Tirop settled for bronze at London’s Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

Ayana, the Rio Olympics 5,00m silver medallist, led from gun-to-tape, winning her maiden 25-lap world title in a world lead time of 30 minutes and 16.32 seconds, missing the Championship Record with 12 seconds.

It’s Ayana’s compatriot, the three-time World 10,000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba, who ruined Kenya’s chances of a silver medal when she cruised past Tirop and World Cross Country silver medallist Alice Aprot to settle second in a season’s best of 31:02.69.

Tirop came in for bronze in a personal best of 31:03.50 as Aprot, who finished fourth at Rio Olympics, once again returned in similar position in a season’s best of 31:11.86.

Another Kenyan, World Cross Country champion Irene Cheptai came in seventh also in a season’s best of 31:21.11.

Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot failed to defend the 10,000m title, having moved to marathon.

It was a great return for Tirop, who made are return from injury to finish fifth at the World Cross Country in Kampala in March before securing bronze on track in London.

“Ayana injected in some fast pace and we just couldn’t cope up with,” said Tirop, who lost the battle for silver too Dibaba.

“We tried our best but we just couldn’t bridge the gap Ayana set.”

Tirop said she still have two Diamond League races in Zurich and Brussels before closing her season.

It was Kenya's second bronze medal after Paul Tanui settled third in men's 10,000m on Friday